Welcoming the New Council Members for 2023

Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo, FCIS.
President / Chairman of Council, ICSAN

Funmi’s professional and career trajectory started with her Law Office Attachment experience at the leading Law Firm of Banwo & Ighodalo. She completed the mandatory one year National Youth Service primary assignment with the Law Firm of the then Bentley Edu & Co. (In association with Irving & Bonnar) after which she was retained by the Firm. With a career spanning over twenty-five years, Funmi spent close to a decade in Law practice and thereafter worked at different times in the Nigeria Capital Market space starting with the then NAL Asset Management & Trustees Limited (Now SAMTL), UBA Trustees Limited (Now United Capital Trustees Limited) and Skye Trustees Limited (Now STL Trustees Limited).

Funmi was appointed as the Managing Director/CEO of STL Trustees Limited (then Skye Trustees Limited) in 2010 and the Company has evolved into a market leader commanding exponential growth in profitability, business size, pedigree and brand value over the years. Under Funmi’s leadership, STL Trustees has birthed a new subsidiary, STL Asset Management Limited and this evolution marks the beginning of the Company’s strategic transition into a full-fledged Capital Market Holding Company structure. The Organization has been recognized by reputable awarding Institutions as a market leader by emerging winner of several awards in the trusteeship industry. For her professional and organizational astuteness, Funmi has also had the honour of receiving the “Trustees Company CEO of the year” award multiple times from the Business Day Banks and Other Financial Institutions Awards (BAFI), the Nigeria Finance Innovation Awards and the Marketing Edge Awards. Funmi has over the years distinguished herself in her area of core competence as a seasoned Trust specialist engaging in the structuring of complex Legal, Financial and Trust instruments. A consummate Capital Market Practitioner, Funmi has been involved in the structuring of a significant number of novel and trailblazing structured finance and capital market transactions over the years.

Funmi is an Alumna of the prestigious Harvard Business School, the Lagos Business School (Chief Executive Programme) and the IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain. She is a Member of the Nigerian Bar Association and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) where she currently serves as a member of the Governing Council. In July 2021, Funmi made history as the first female to be elected as the Vice President and Vice Chairman of Council of the Institute and in March 2023, she was elected President-Elect of the Institute.

In 2005, following her successful completion of the ICSAN professional examinations with a Merit in Corporate Financial Management, Funmi qualified as a Chartered Secretary and Administrator thus becoming an Associate member of the Institute. Since that time and following her subsequent upgrade to a Fellow and becoming a member of the Governing Council, Funmi has served and impacted the Institute in many ways both directly and through achievements recorded in the various Committees she has had the privilege to lead and serve as follows:

• Chairman, Finance & General Purposes Committee
• Chairman, Conference and AGM Committee
• Chairman of the Law Reform Committee that carried out a holistic review of the extant ICSAN Act
• Chairman, Roundtable on Corporate Governance Committee
• Chairman, Public Lecture Committee
• Chairman, Nominations and Governance Committee
• Chairman, Presidential Intervention Committee on the ICSAN Building Project
• Member, Finance & General Purposes Committee (two term member)
• Member, Building Project Committee (two term member)
• Consistently secured sponsorships for the Institute’s programmes and made financial support towards the success of many of the Institute’s activities both at the National and Chapter levels.
• Voluntarily and gladly served the Institute on a pro-bono basis from inception to date.
• Mentoring of younger members of the Institute

Funmi is a Past President of the Association of Corporate Trustees of Nigeria, and she has also served in different capacities and at different times on the Capital Market Committee of the Securities and Exchange Commission including as member, Technical Committee on National Savings Strategy, member, National Investor Protection Fund and member, Rules and Compliance Committee. For her commitment to the industry, she was recognized and awarded by the Securities and Exchange Commission for her contribution to the development of the Nigerian Capital Market. Funmi also served as a member of the Lagos State Technical Committee on Real Estate Regulation.

Funmi has attended several professional and leadership trainings and courses both locally and internationally. A seasoned professional, Funmi has over the years been committed to, and belongs to various professional bodies including the following:

• Fellow, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (FCIS)
• Fellow, Institute of Directors (F.IoD)
• Fellow, Institute of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers (FIAPM)
• Fellow, Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals (FERP)
• Fellow, Portfolio Management Institute (Chartered);
• Member, Nigeria Bar Association
• Member, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS)
• Member, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, UK (CISI)
• Member, Corporate Governance Institute, UK
• Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB)
• Council member, Institute of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers
• EXCO Member, Women In Finance, Nigeria (WIFng)

Funmi served as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc. (Now Tangerine General Insurance) and she is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of some corporate entities.

Funmi is a member of the Ikoyi Club 1938, the Lagos Country Club, the Lagos Business School Alumni Association and the Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria. Funmi is always happy for every opportunity to mentor younger professionals.

A silent philanthropist, Funmi is a devout Christian who is passionate about the things of God. She was ordained a Deaconess in Christ Apostolic Church over fourteen years ago and she currently serves as the Unit Coordinator of the Counselling Department in Christ Apostolic Church, The Worship Centre, Lagos. She is also a Sunday School Teacher and a member of the Prayer Band unit of the Church. Funmi is happily married to Olugbenga Lawrence Ekundayo and the marriage is blessed with three young men.

Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS. Vice President

Prior to joining the Tech sector, she had a fulfilling career in financial services and legal practice. An alumnus of the Lagos Business School, she is a recipient of several awards and was honoured as the 2021 Company Secretary  of the Year at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards.

She is a Member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) where she chairs the  Building Committee and serves on the Nomination and Governance Committee of the Institute. She is a member of other professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Assopciation, the International Bar Association, the Ethics Compliance Officers Association, USA.

Uto treasures her role as a Wife and Mother.

Summary of contributions to the Institute

1. Chairman of the Building Committee responsible for the construction of the N2.6bn National Secretariat Project of the Institute.  Funds  For  the  project hove been prudently utilised with potential savings for the Institute.
2. Memberv of the Presidential lnterventon Commitee mandated to roise funds for the Nationa Secretariat    Project. I have provided a list of donors that I will personally contact in this regard.
3. Member of the Nomination & Governance Committee and actively participate in the activities of that Committee. 
4. Member, Fact Finding Committee setup to look at 2022 Lagos State Chapter Elections.
5. Finantial member of both Lagos state and Akwa Ibom state Chapters.
6. Sponsored the establishment of Akwa Ibom State Chapter and I remain a key resource. Albeit relatively young Akwa Ibom is one of the fasted-growing chapters of the Institute with vibrant leadership and membership.
7. Through my office, MTN has participated in the ICSAN Graduate Internship Programme since 2021. The intern was given practical exposure across the MTN Nigeria ecosystemincluding MTN Foundation. The intern was subsequently offered a role withing MTN Nigeria. We have requested fresh candidates for consideration. 
8. Donated an MTN Hynet Flex device for connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic which enable the Instite to quickly transition to and carry out virtual programmes including webinars and meetings. Post-COVID, the device continue to serve as an essential tool for meetings and other virtual activities.
9. Obtained the initial sponsorship of N1.5M from MTN which was used to purchase the first set of classroom furnitures for the exam halls at the National Secretariat. MTN has sponsored other activities of the Institute. at national and state levels.
10. Resource Person at various ICSAN events more recently a speaker at the 2022 National Conference of the Institute.
11. I have actively sourced new member for the Institute, particularly peer Company Secretaries in multinationals and public sector administrators.
12. I have leveraged my network to access resource persons for the Institute’s activities.
13. An avid supporter of the Institute’s activities at the national and chapter levels long before I became a member i.e. pre-2000. As a Council member, I serve as a pro bono basis.
14. I mentor several Memvers of the Institute ane serve as a sounding board for peers and other distinguished member of the Institute.

Mr. Adewunmi, Ibrahim Babasegun, FCIS. Member

He began his legal career with the law firm of AHONARUOGHO, AHONARUOGHO &CO as an Associate counsel. 

He subsequently joined the services of Conoil Producing Limited, one of the foremost  indigenous oil and Gas company as a Legal Officer and rose to become the Head of legal.

 He is the Head of legal department of West Africa Exploration and Production Limited(WAEP), the oil and gas unit of the  Dangote Group.

He is a also a resource personnel for ICSAN and other companies and has facilitated a wide range of legal related  issues which bothers on industrial relations, Criminology and banking and finance.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSTITUTE

• 2008- Lecturer, Corporate law
• 2008-Lecturer, Applied Business law
• 2009-2023- Lecturer, Corporate Administration n and Risk Management
• 2010-2023 Facilitator for ICSAN organised training program with respect to Corporate Administration
• 2011- Member, Syllabus development committee for Corporate Administration.
• 2019-2023- Member, Law Reform Committee
• Facilitator for Corporate Administration for all fast track program since inception.   

Mrs. Nkechi Onyenso, FCIS. Member

She obtained a Post Certificate in Human Rights Law and a Diploma of Law from Queen Mary University of London in 2015 and was a awarded a Merit in her Master of Laws Degree also from the same University in 2016.
Nkechi has over two decades of experience in Broadcasting, Administration, Aviation Consultancy, Legal, Corporate Governance Advisory and NGOs. She rose to become the first Female Registrar/CEO of ICSAN in 2015.
Whilst serving as the Registrar/CEO of ICSAN, Nkechi helped to revolutionize the Institute by introducing and coordinating a number of projects including:
 Significant increase in student registration
 Introduced online registration and payment options for students and members.
 Increased visibility of the Institute on all platforms.
 Introduced Regional Registers and Training Programmes for Members across the Country.
 Secured collaborations with International Organizations.
 Introduced e-learning to the Institute.
 Increased revenue and general organization of the Institute’s programmes.
 Facilitated and guided the formulation of new vision and strategic direction that successfully repositioned the Institute.
 Introduction of the Graduate Internship Scheme.
 Introduction of Executive Route/ Fast Track of Membership.
 Introduced e-voting to the Institute.
 Launched the Institute’s first corporate governance radio programme.
 Introduced for the first time, insurance scheme and other benefits for members.
 Initiated and spearheaded interactive website, full online student registration and payment portals in ICSAN.
 Supervised and coordinated the publication of the first ever set of study texts for ICSAN

Nkechi held the position of Secretary to the Continuing Legal Education Committee for Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch for two concurrent terms, was elected and trained as Auditor of the All Purpose Co-operative Society of NBA Ikeja
Branch in 2013. Social Secretary of ICSAN Lagos Chapter Nigeria in 2013 -2015 and Publicity Secretary of the NBA Ikeja Branch 2014-2016. She served as the Chairperson of the Editorial Committee of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja 2014 -2016 and was elected into the National Steering Committee of the Open
Government Partnership (OGP) in 2017.
She is currently the Managing Director/CEO of Pathfinders International Limited (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierre Leone and Liberia);
The Facilitator of the Governance and Institutions Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG):
The Chairman of Aviation Sectoral Group of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria and The Alternate Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Bar Journal
Committee.
Nkechi was featured in Guardian Newspaper as One of Nigeria’s Most Inspirational Women in July 2018 and again by Punch Newspaper as a Female Mentor in January 2019. She has won several awards including Africa Travel 100 Women Award (Top 100 Travel and Tourism Personalities in Nigeria) in 2022 and
The Aviation Ambassador Award in 2023.
Nkechi is blessed with a lovely family and three children.

Mr. Tony Okonmah, FCIS. Member

He is a member of the Nigeria and International Bar Associations. (NBA&IBA), member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators London and Nigeria (ACI.Arb), member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), member of the Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG) and the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse.

Tony had a successful banking career that spanned over 25 years covering Commercial, Retail and Mortgage Banking. He rose to the position of Assistant General Manager/Company Secretary and Legal Adviser before retiring into private legal practice

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INSTITUTE

Tony is a grass root member of the Institute and dedicated to its service. Since becoming a member of the Institute, he has served in the following capacities:

LAGOS STATE CHAPTER

• Assistant Honourary Secretary (2 terms)
• Honourary Secretary
• Chairman, Conference Planning Committee
• Vice Chairman

NATIONAL

• Member of the Governing Council and currently serve as Chairman, Membership and Branch Liaison Committee
• Former Chairman, Nomination and Governance Committee
• Former Chairman, Implementation and Monitoring Committee

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INDUSTRY/NIGERIA

As a governance practitioner, Tony has provided technical and practical support to companies on corporate compliance, corporate governance, administration, and general corporate matters, ensuring compliance with the law, regulations, and best practices through proactive and periodic secretarial/legal audits. he is versed in providing a wide range of company secretarial services to companies operating within the various sectors of the Nigerian economy, facilitating, attending, and recording board, board committees, management, and shareholders’ meetings. Some notable company secretarial services she has rendered include designing board strategy implementation framework, among other policy documents. He has also developed tailor-made corporate governance policies for several companies, such as the Board Charter, Conflict of Interest Policy, Sustainability Policy, whistle-blowing policy, Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Dividend policy.

Tony currently serves on the Board of several companies. He has attended several local and international courses in banking including the training at the Lagos Business School, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) where he was certified as a Corporate Governance Trainer and expert

BRIEF STATEMENT OF INTENT/MANIFESTO

As a grass root member of the Institute and someone who has always been dedicated to the service of the Institute, I intend to continue with greater zeal and commitment to service if re-elected to council.

I also will continue to provide financial support to the Institute’s programmes through corporate sponsorships using my contacts.

Miss Victoria Oyeronke Opajobi, FCIS. Member

Her previous employments had ‘Ronke –

– starting her career journey as Trainee Chartered Secretary and then promoted as Assistant Corporate Secretary at Lennap Services Limited, the secretarial arm of Pannell Kerr Forster (now PKF Professional Services-Chartered Accountants),

– as General Manager with Folreinco Nominees Limited, a firm of Chartered Secretaries,

– as Head-Corporate Services with Monument Securities and Finance Limited, a stock-broking firm and

– lastly as Chief Operating Officer and later Chief Executive Officer at City Secretaries Limited. 

‘Ronke holds a B.Ed (English & Language Arts) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She also has a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and Knowledge Management.

She is a Fellow of our great Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and Fellow Institute of Business Administration and Knowledge Management. She has attended several trainings, seminars, workshops and professionally relevant courses. ‘Ronke is a Governance Professional par excellence. She is assertive but humble. 

Currently, Miss ‘Ronke Opajobi is a Member of the Governing Council of ICSAN into which she now seeks re-election. She has been a consistent and valuable member of Council. She pays and draws attention to  tiny details which earned her the appellation “Eagle Eyes” in the Council Chamber. She makes meaningful contributions to issues of discussion. 

‘Ronke was a two-term Chairman of Public Practice Committee (Now Governance Practitioners Committee) and it was during her second term that presentation of Practice Licence and Seal was introduced and was made popular and desirable by members of the Institute. 

‘Ronke was also the Chairman of a then newly created Visitation and Activation Committee. A Committee saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to and encouraging dormant and non-active members to return to the Institute. During the time, quite a number of non-active members were reached and encouraged to return to the Institute. Their concerns were noted and reported to the Governing Council. Many of them really did return. The Committee has since been merged with Membership and Branch Liaison Committee. 

‘Ronke Opajobi was at one time or the other a member of several Committees of the Institute among which were Executive Committee, Finance and General Purposes Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, Publicity and Advocacy Committee, Implementation and Monitoring Committee which she currently chairs. 

At the Chapter level, ‘Ronke has been a very consistent and financial member of Lagos State Chapter. She was once the Honorary Secretary and was Chairman of the Electoral Committee during the election of the current EXCO of the Chapter. 

Mr. Togunde Solomon Oyedele, FCIS. Member

He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria where he worked in the ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT and later in the FOREIGN OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT and rose to the position of a manager. At the Foreign Operations Department, he was charged with the implementation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s foreign exchange policies and some fiscal policies. He took to an early retirement as a Manager in 1996. Later he worked as Managing Consultant at Solubat Nigeria Limited (a Publishing and Management Consulting firm) between 1996 and 2000.He was employed as an Assistant Registrar by Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) in 2000, promoted Deputy Registrar 2001 and appointed Registrar/CEO between 2002 to 2015. While at ICSAN, he repositioned the Institute in terms of visibility, recognition, educational development, and increased membership. He took to voluntary retirement with ICSAN in July,2015.

He was a member of the National Steering Committee on National Code of Corporate Governance (2013). He was the maiden Chairman of Registrars and Executive Secretaries of Professional Bodies in Nigeria under the auspices of the Association of Professional Bodies in Nigeria (APBN)in 2014.

Dele is currently a member of Council of the Institute and serves as the Chairman of the Remunerations Committee, Member Education Committee, and member Disciplinary Committee of Council.

Presently, he is the Managing Consultant at Teedel Consulting (A Corporate Services and Management Consultancy outfit) He sits on some Boards as a Non-Executive Director. Dele is married with children.