The Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered has awarded fellowship status to Gen. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, along with 149 other Nigerians.
The NIM 2024 Awards, Fellows and Spouses Day Luncheon took place on Thursday in Lagos, where the recipients were presented.
“Integrating Sustainability into Strategic Decision Making: A Path towards Long Business Success” was the theme of the event.
Dr. Christiana Atako, President of NIM, explained that the event marked the careful and rigorous process by which qualified and deserving members were awarded the highest professional membership grade of the institute.
She pointed out that the fellowship upgrade was a call to greater responsibility and service to the institute, the management profession, and the country rather than an end in and of itself.
She urged the recipients to use their skills and specializations when needed to serve the institute, the profession, and the country with greater time, talent, treasure, and thought.
“I congratulate the institute’s elder statesmen and women who are receiving life membership awards at this event for keeping faith with the institute over the years.
“In the same breath, I pay special tribute to other individuals and corporate members as well as non-members that will also be receiving various for excelling in their different areas of calling and business,” she said.
In her keynote speech, Mrs. Hafsatu Abdu-Gusau, the business advisor to the chief financial officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, urged participants to incorporate sustainability criteria into their decision-making procedures.
Abdu-Gusau emphasized that in order to successfully navigate upcoming challenges and seize new market opportunities, all organizational levels must take sustainability impacts into account.
She pointed out that obstacles to its adoption included a lack of understanding and familiarity with sustainable practices, resistance to change, and challenges in quantifying its benefits.
On the other hand, she claimed that incorporating sustainability into organizational procedures had advantages like lower costs, attracting investors, improving brand reputation, reducing risk, and complying with regulations.
She said, “Effective measurement and tracking of sustainability performance is crucial for monitoring progress, identifying areas for improvement, and reporting to stakeholders.
“Managers should develop a comprehensive set of Key Performance Indicators that align with the organisation’s sustainability priorities and strategic goals.
“Collaboration plays a crucial role in sustainability, as it enables organisations to leverage partnerships and alliances to access complementary resources, capabilities, and markets.
“By working together, businesses can share knowledge, reduce costs, and enhance innovation, which are essential for implementing sustainable practices.
“These collaborative efforts can lead to improved operational efficiencies and greater impact in addressing sustainability challenges.”
In his speech, Musa emphasized that everyone in Nigeria had a responsibility to ensure the country’s security and urged people to assist the military in carrying out this responsibility.
He praised the NIM for identifying and bestowing the esteemed fellowship award upon deserving members.
Since the institute’s founding 63 years ago, he said, it has been successful in promoting management knowledge and guidance to the country.
He declared that poor management practices hampered the country’s progress and urged the Institute to remain steadfast in its mission to impose effective management practices on businesses and the general public.
He made a plea for all citizens to be aware of the nation’s security services and commanded them to denounce and report instances of poor management practices wherever they occurred.
(NAN)
