The Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) is set to mark its 25th anniversary with a two-day international conference in Lagos. The event, scheduled for October 14-15 at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, will bring together policymakers, chief executives, chief risk officers, academics, and development partners from across Africa and beyond. The conference aims to debate how organisations can turn risk management into a competitive "resilience edge."
The conference will feature speeches from notable guests, including Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and keynote remarks from Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated. According to Kevin Ugwuoke, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CRMI, the event comes at a critical moment as Nigerian firms navigate overlapping pressures from economic reforms, technological change, evolving regulation, climate stress, and rising cyber threats.
Over two days, plenary addresses, panel sessions, and technical workshops will examine how boards and management can anticipate disruption, adapt strategy, and recover from shocks with competitive advantage. The conference programme includes a notable addition, the maiden University Risk Management Challenge, an academic competition that pits student teams from Nigerian universities against a real-world risk scenario.
Participating teams in the University Risk Management Challenge will present their analyses and solutions to a panel of senior practitioners, competing for financial grants, academic recognition, and professional development resources. According to Ugwuoke, the institute's aim is to engage emerging talent "before the job market does." This initiative highlights CRMI's focus on developing the next generation of risk management professionals.
The conference will close on the evening of October 15 with a 25th Anniversary Award and Dinner Night that will recognise individuals and organisations that have advanced risk management practice in Nigeria. Categories include Institutional Leadership in Risk Advocacy, Human Capacity Development in Risk Management, Risk Regulation Excellence, Chief Risk Officer of the Year, Digital & Cyber Risk Management Excellence, Young Risk Professional of the Year, and Excellence in Security Risk Management & National Security.
The awards aim to highlight best practice and set benchmarks for corporate resilience, regulatory compliance, and national security preparedness. According to CRMI, the event is expected to attract representatives from risk management bodies across Africa and international development partners. This demonstrates the institute's commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the continent.
Twenty-five years ago, risk management in Nigeria was a back-office function that few boards discussed. Today, it sits in the boardroom, and the question is no longer whether an organisation manages risk, but whether it can turn that capability into an advantage. This transformation underscores the importance of CRMI's mission to promote risk management excellence in Nigeria and across Africa.
Key points
- The CRMI conference will feature a University Risk Management Challenge, an academic competition that aims to engage emerging talent in risk management.
- The 25th Anniversary Award and Dinner Night will recognise individuals and organisations that have advanced risk management practice in Nigeria.
- The conference aims to debate how organisations can turn risk management into a competitive "resilience edge" in the face of overlapping pressures from economic reforms, technological change, and evolving regulation.
