The Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria has urged newly inducted directors to promote institutional resilience, ethical leadership, and long-term value creation to ensure business sustainability.

The call was made on Thursday in Lagos during the institute’s induction of more than 250 new members at a ceremony with the theme “The Director Mandate: Governing for Value and Resilience.”

Speaking, a partner at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Konyinsola Ajayi, described directorship as a position of stewardship that requires directors to safeguard institutions beyond their tenure.

Mr Ajayi said the foremost responsibility of every director was to ensure the survival, resilience, and sustainability of organisations.

According to him, the true test of a director is whether an institution becomes stronger and continues to thrive after the board has changed.

He said organisations now face growing challenges, including climate change, cybersecurity threats, geopolitical tensions, artificial intelligence and changing stakeholder expectations.

Mr Ajayi said these realities required boards that were forward-looking, adaptable and committed to institutional continuity.

He urged directors to see themselves as custodians of organisations rather than builders of personal legacies.

“Years from now, no one will remember how many board meetings you attended. They will remember the decisions you made and whether the institution became stronger because you served,” he said.

Mr Ajayi added that trust, competence and integrity remained the foundation of effective board leadership.

Also speaking, the president of CIoD Nigeria, Adetunji Oyebanji, said the induction marked the beginning of greater responsibility for the new members.

He said the institute admitted over 250 professionals who completed the Company Direction Course I and fulfilled the requirements for membership.

Mr Oyebanji said directors must go beyond regulatory compliance to strengthen organisational resilience and competitiveness in an increasingly complex business environment.

He noted that boards globally confront technological disruption, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity risks, sustainability challenges and geopolitical uncertainty.

According to him, effective corporate governance has become essential to organisational success.

He said the institute remains committed to strengthening corporate governance through initiatives such as the Independent Non-Executive Directors Register, which connects organisations with qualified independent directors.

Mr Oyebanji added that CIoD was grooming future board leaders through its Young Directors Forum, which provides mentorship, executive education and networking opportunities for emerging professionals.

He urged the newly inducted members to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and contribute to building enduring institutions in Nigeria.

(NAN)