Uto Ukpanah
Uto Ukpanah is the Company Secretary of MTN Nigeria Communications PLC (MTN). She is also responsible for operational governance of MTN Foundation Limited by Guarantee as well as other entities within the MTN Nigeria structure. She coordinated the team that facilitated the successful listing of MTN Nigeria on the Premium Board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the first by any company. Prior to joining MTN, Mrs. Ukpanah was the Assistant Company Secretary of United Bank for Africa Plc.
A legal practitioner with over 30 years professional experience, Mrs. Ukpanah is actively involved in the development of corporate governance codes and ethics related guidelines across sectors in Nigeria and globally. Mrs. Ukpanah is a Certified Ethics Officer of the Ethics Institute and University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other professional memberships include the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association as well as the Ethics & Compliance Officers Association, USA.
Mrs. Ukpanah has been supporting the activities of the Institute for over 20 years; long before she became a member particularly through securing corporate sponsorships, serving as a resource person as well as securing resource persons for the Institute’s activities.
Track Record at the Institute:
- Chairman, Building Committee – Focused on engaging consultants towards actualizing the achievement of the ICSAN Secretariat Project (24 months anticipated completion).
- Member, Nomination and Governance Committee
- Former Member, Public Lecture Committee
- Served as a Member, Consultancy Unit Restructuring Committee – Made recommendations towards repositioning the consultancy unit for optimal efficiency.
- Active supporter of ICSAN Akwa Ibom State Chapter and leveraging personal network to promote the Chapter’s activities.
- Leveraged network to promote the activities of the Institute including securing speakers and other participants for events.
- Active membership drive among peers in MTN, other private sector entities as well as contacts in the public sector.
- Worked assiduously to enhance the perception of the Institute and position ICSAN as a premium brand in the hearts and minds of stakeholders.
- Raised funds towards the initial purchase of classroom furniture
- Mentoring mid-level Chartered Secretaries
- Continue to display independent judgment on the Council
- Passionate about the Institute and serve on the Council on a pro bono basis.
Key Contributions at National Level/Other Sectors:
Mrs Ukpanah has been involved engagements across diverse sectors and interests including the following bodies amongst others:
- Board, United Nations Global Compact Nigeria Network
- Board of Trustees Obong University, Akwa Ibom State
- Technical Committee on the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018
- Steering Committee on the National Codes of Corporate Governance for the Public, Private and Not for Profit Sectors in Nigeria
- Securities & Exchange Commission’s Committee on Corporate Governance which reviewed the 2003 Code and drafted the 2011 Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies in Nigeria
- Secretary, Bankers Committee Code of Corporate Governance for Banks and other Financial Institutions. This Committee worked on the corporate governance guidance for the financial services sector that was the foundation for the post-consolidation Code.
- Panelist: Nigerian Stock Exchange 2020 International Women’s Day
- Board, Inoyo Toro Foundation (involved in promoting teaching excellence and mentorship of students in public secondary schools)
- Volunteer Mentor, Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) – a high level and structured mentoring programme for young professional women.
- Co-Founder, Cemuoa: Involved in value chain integration in the agricultural sector with a focus on supporting farmers in rural communities particularly women and youth.
Global Engagements include but are not limited to:
- Panel of Judges – Women in Compliance Awards UK (2017/2018 awards)
- United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Task Force on Sport Sponsorship and Sport Related Hospitality which developed Fighting Corruption in Sport Sponsorship and Hospitality: A Practical Guide for Companies
- UNGC Task Force on the 10th Principle (Anti-Corruption)
- Some international speaking engagements:
- UNGC webinar on Accountability, Integrity and Transparency in Times of Crisis (June 2020)
- Member of UNGC Delegation to the 6th Conference of States Parties to the Convention against Corruption held in St. Petersburg, Russia (2015)
- Speaker, Making Public Procurement Public
- Speaker, Sport Integrity and the Power of Sponsors
- Speaker, 15th Anniversary of the UNGC, at the UN Headquarters, New York (2015).
- Speaker, United Nations/Economic Community for Africa Private Sector Focal Points Meeting, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Speaker, Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Marrakesh, Morocco.
