President Bola Tinubu is set to open the 2026 Annual Directors' Conference as the special guest of honour. The conference, organised by the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria (CIoD), will take place on 10 and 11 November 2026 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. The theme of the conference is "Reimagining the Boardroom for Inclusive and Sustainable National Prosperity in the New Economy." This event aims to bring together directors, business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to discuss key issues shaping the boardroom and the wider economy.
The conference will feature a keynote address by Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, a former Minister of Budget and National Planning and current Chairman of Seplat Energy Plc. There will also be several sessions of cross-fertilisation of ideas by experts from different disciplines. These sessions will cover topics such as Strategic Competitiveness Amid Fragmentation and Volatility in a Shifting Global Order, Accelerating Entrepreneurial Growth through Governance, Capital Access and Market Expansion, and Board Accountability in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
The National Organising Committee (NOC) Chairman, Dr Waheed Olagunju, confirmed that the conference will provide a platform for meaningful exchanges between directors, business and government leaders, and other stakeholders. The sessions will feature leading academics and professionals, including Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, and Mrs Nonye Ayeni, ED/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. Other resource persons include Dr Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, an international lawyer and development finance expert, and Mr Sunny Iroche, an AI strategist.
The conference will also feature a Golf Tournament at Ikoyi Club on 5 November, providing an opportunity for participants and members to interact in an informal setting ahead of the main event. A Business Meets Government Dinner will take place on 11 November, chaired by Dr Umaru Kwairanga, Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group. The dinner's thematic area is ESG, Sustainability, and the Climate Agenda, with a sub-theme of Building a $1 Trillion Economy Through Sustainable Capital and Governance.
The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIoD, Mr Otunba Oyebanji, said that with the inevitable changes in the corporate world, it is necessary for boards to continually examine how they provide leadership, oversight, and direction. He assured that the 2026 ADC will provide a platform for directors, business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to discuss the issues that are shaping the boardroom and the wider economy.
Dr Taiwo Nolas-Alausa, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of CIoD, believes that the conference is an important platform for bringing directors and other stakeholders together to examine issues that affect the quality of leadership, governance, and decision-making in organisations. He noted that the theme speaks to the need for corporate leaders to remain responsive to changes affecting business and society.
The conference aims to facilitate informed conversations among those responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight. The event will bring together voices from the private sector, government-facing institutions, technology, finance, entrepreneurship, and professional services. The CIoD hopes that the conference will provide meaningful opportunities for exchanges between directors, business and government leaders, and other stakeholders.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu to open the 2026 Annual Directors' Conference as special guest of honour
- Conference theme: "Reimagining the Boardroom for Inclusive and Sustainable National Prosperity in the New Economy"
- Keynote address to be delivered by Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, former Minister of Budget and National Planning
