Lagos: The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) Chartered has identified quality management as a critical driver of Nigeria’s development and an important tool in the country’s fight against corruption. Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (rtd.), President of NIM, made this assertion during a news conference in Lagos to announce the Institute’s 2026 Annual National Management Conference (ANMC).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ayuba emphasized the necessity for quality managers who can transform Nigeria’s abundant human and financial resources into effective outcomes. He highlighted the centrality of management in every sector of the economy, noting that effective resource management is crucial for national development. The NIM president also expressed the institute’s commitment to collaborating with anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to enhance the fight against corruption through professional management ethics.
Ayuba explained that NIM’s code of conduct, which provides ethical guidelines for managers, could significantly contribute to promoting accountability, integrity, and responsible management across organizations. He noted the institute’s efforts to retain human-resource capacity amidst increasing emigration, emphasizing the importance of preserving experienced members and best management practices for Nigeria’s future needs. Furthermore, NIM is focused on developing young managers by encouraging the application of emerging technologies and creating platforms for them to share their vision for the future of work.
The 2026 Annual National Management Conference, scheduled for September 13 to September 15 at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, will feature the theme: ‘Sixty-Five Years of Management Excellence: Strengthening Institutional Governance in Nigeria’. Ayuba stated that the conference aims to gather professional managers, government officials, policymakers, and top executives from both public and private sectors to examine institutional governance and identify solutions to management challenges facing the country.
The main theme speaker for the event will be Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), while His Royal Majesty, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara Kingdom and Pro-Chancellor of Lagos State University, will deliver the keynote address. Other notable speakers include Dr. Ayodele Aderinwale, Chairman of Justrite Superstores Ltd., and Dr. Babangida Albaba, former Rector of Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management.
The conference marks the culmination of activities commemorating NIM’s 65th anniversary, a milestone for an institute founded in 1961 to bridge gaps in management practice in Nigeria’s public and private sectors. With about 200,000 individuals and 400 corporate organizations having participated in the institute’s membership process over the years, NIM remains dedicated to ensuring that issues such as mismanagement, maladministration, and corruption become exceptions rather than the norm in Nigeria.
Dr. Taiwo Olusesi, Registrar of NIM, highlighted the institute’s focus on the impact of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other emerging technologies on the workplace. During the conference, discussions will address appropriate regulations to ensure that the deployment of these technologies remains beneficial to society. Olusesi also noted that the institute traditionally produces a communique after its annual conference, containing recommendations from its sessions, which are then shared with the government and other relevant stakeholders. She urged the government to collaborate closely with the institute, leveraging its expertise for national development.