NECA, CIPE push ethical business drive to strengthen corporate governance in Nigeria
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), in collaboration with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), has renewed efforts to promote ethical conduct and stronger corporate governance across Nigeria’s private sector.
The initiative was spotlighted at a high-level breakfast meeting held on Tuesday at NECA House in Ikeja, Lagos, under the ‘Ethics 1st’ programme.
The session brought together key private sector stakeholders to explore practical approaches to improving ethics, compliance, and integrity in business operations.
Participants were trained on how organisations can better protect themselves against fraud, bribery, conflicts of interest, and other forms of unethical practices that continue to undermine business efficiency and investor confidence.
Speaking at the event, Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, director-general of NECA, said the ‘Ethics 1st’ initiative is designed to build the right mindset, organisational culture, and institutional capacity needed for businesses to thrive in a complex and competitive environment.
He noted that Nigerian businesses must increasingly adopt transparency, accountability, and strong governance structures as core principles if they hope to remain relevant and competitive globally.
“At NECA, we recognise that ethical business practices are no longer optional but essential for long-term sustainability and competitiveness,” he said.
“As Nigerian businesses position themselves for growth and global relevance, embracing transparency, accountability, and strong governance standards will be critical.”
Smatt-Oyerinde added that the initiative will help strengthen member credibility, improve investor confidence, and enhance access to global value chains.
Also speaking, Imaobong Akpan-Ita, programme officer at CIPE Africa, said the ‘Ethics 1st’ programme is designed to position African businesses as credible and trusted partners in global markets by promoting transparency and reducing risk perceptions.
She stressed that ethical compliance remains central to democratic governance and sustainable economic development, noting that businesses must adopt long-term thinking to remain competitive.
Akpan-Ita explained that the initiative goes beyond policy discussions, serving as a practical framework that helps organisations identify, prevent, and respond to governance and compliance risks.
She added that the programme supports companies in reducing due diligence burdens while improving their visibility and credibility for global opportunities.
‘Ethics 1st’ is a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at strengthening corporate integrity across Africa by supporting compliance systems, promoting anti-corruption practices, and improving access to global investment and trade opportunities through verified ethical standards.
