The importance of ethical practice in business dominated discussion at the 1st Annual Christopher Kolade Lecture on Business Integrity, which had Guinness Nigeria Plc as lead sponsor.
Instituted by The Convention on Business Integrity, the lecture was designed to honour Dr. Christopher Kolade and to entrench the values of integrity and good governance among Nigerians in leadership positions in the public and private sectors of the economy.
With the theme, ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants’, the lecture was also a platform for celebrating the exemplary lives of integrity led by distinguished first generation Nigerian chief executive officers of multinational corporations such as Dr. Michael Omolayole and Mr. Akintola Williams.
Professor Pat Utomi, late Ambassador Gabriel Olusanya and late Adekunle Kukoyi, a surveyor who stood up and defended the need for business integrity at a time many considered “anti-corruption” to be an “anti-Government” activity, were also presented with recognition awards.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Seni Adetu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, said the exemplary lives of integrity led by Dr. Christopher Kolade, Dr. Michael Omolayole and Mr. Akintola Williams during their careers was the reason they were admired, loved, respected and often cited as role models and mentors by the present generation of business leaders in Nigeria.
He disclosed that Guinness Nigeria had a high standard of ethical practice and corporate governance in line with the philosophy of the Diageo group to which it belongs.
“At Guinness Nigeria, we have a vision to be the most iconic company in Nigeria, and we are the first to recognise that we would not achieve that from just the strong financials we deliver or how we engage our people for performance, but by our reputation in shaping the ethical destiny of Nigeria,” Adetu concluded.
In his remark, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who is also the Chairman of The Convention of Business Integrity, noted that adherence to the principles of corporate governance was imperative for the nation to be on the path of sustainable development.