GOVERNANCE REFORMS TIPPED TO UNLOCK CAPITAL AND BOOST NIGERIA’S PRODUCTIVITY

GOVERNANCE REFORMS TIPPED TO UNLOCK CAPITAL AND BOOST NIGERIA’S PRODUCTIVITY
By Prince Benson Davies

Corporate governance has been identified as a major driver of Nigeria’s economic acceleration, with experts saying stronger oversight and accountability will be key to attracting investment and improving institutional performance.

Ahead of the National Corporate Governance Summit 2026, the organisers said the quality of governance in both public institutions and private companies will shape investor sentiment and determine how effectively national reforms are implemented.

The summit is being jointly organised by the IoD Center for Corporate Governance (IoDCCG), the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI), and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, representatives of the four institutions said this year’s summit will focus on practical governance solutions rather than theory. Discussions will cut across state-owned enterprises, banks and financial institutions, mining, the expanding credit market, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in business operations. The aim is to connect governance principles directly to execution and service delivery.

According to the organisers, investors are now paying closer attention to governance structures before committing capital. Transparency, board independence and accountability, they said, have become minimum standards for both domestic and foreign investors. Organisations that meet these standards are more likely to secure funding, manage risks better, and sustain performance during economic shocks.

A key theme of the summit will be building trust in Nigeria’s financial system. Panels are expected to look at policies and practices that can deepen participation by local investors while making the market more competitive for international players. Experts will also examine how stronger governance can improve the efficiency of SOEs and reduce leakages in public institutions.

The IoDCCG, ICSAN, MoFI and FRC further stressed that resilience will be central to the conversations. They explained that companies and agencies with clear governance frameworks make better decisions, respond faster to disruptions, and align more easily with national development goals. This, they said, is critical as Nigeria implements reforms to stabilise the economy and expand productive sectors.

At the close of the two-day engagement, participants are expected to agree on a set of recommendations to strengthen governance standards across priority sectors. The outcome document will be positioned to support regulators, corporate boards, and government agencies in aligning with the broader economic reform agenda.

The National Corporate Governance Summit 2026 is scheduled for July 21 and 22 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Over 500 delegates are expected, including policymakers, regulators, investors, CEOs, governance professionals, development partners, and representatives of major public institutions.