By Abbas Nazil
The Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN) has called for stronger ethical reforms and sustainable governance practices to address growing environmental and technological disruptions affecting Nigeria’s economy.
At the 20th Corporate Governance Conference held in Lagos, experts emphasized that the nation’s environmental and climate challenges demand responsible leadership, transparency, and stricter enforcement of governance standards.
Former Minister of Communication and Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, in her keynote address titled “Strengthening Ethical Governance in a Disrupted World,” highlighted how global environmental and technological shifts — including climate change, resource depletion, and artificial intelligence — are reshaping governance systems.
She explained that the impact of environmental degradation, economic volatility, and migration trends continues to weaken corporate resilience and productivity in Nigeria.
Johnson stressed that balancing technology adoption with environmental ethics and human-centered leadership is vital for ensuring sustainability in both governance and business.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, noted that ethical reforms are essential for achieving environmental accountability in fiscal and policy decisions.
He warned that poor governance in resource management contributes to environmental degradation and economic inequality, urging stronger institutional oversight.
The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, represented by John Bricks, called for deeper corporate market reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s environmental governance and sustainability record.
Agama emphasized that embedding Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into corporate operations is key to boosting investor confidence and promoting transparency in environmental management.
He added that corporate institutions must align their activities with global sustainability standards to ensure long-term ecological stability.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Rabiu Olowo, disclosed that new frameworks are being developed to enforce sustainability reporting and environmental accountability in both public and private sectors.
Olowo cautioned that climate risks, artificial intelligence disruptions, and data manipulation could undermine transparency if not ethically managed.
He reaffirmed that the council remains committed to ensuring corporate responsibility toward environmental protection and sustainable governance across Nigeria.
