Dr. Ainojie 'Alex' Irune, Managing Director, Oando Energy Resources (OER), and Folasade Ibidapo-Obe, Company Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, Oando PLC, while speaking at the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria Women's Directors' Biennial Conference, advocated for more intentional pathways to women's leadership, arguing that organisations must deliberately develop female talent to strengthen corporate governance, improve decision-making and build more resilient institutions. The conference, held on July 1, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, National Theatre, Lagos, examined the theme "From Presence to Power: Advancing Women's Influence in the Boardroom."
The biennial gathering brought together directors, chief executives, policymakers, and governance experts to examine how women can move beyond representation to exercising meaningful influence in boardrooms and organisational leadership. Delivering the keynote address, former Governor of Lagos State, and former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, CON, challenged participants to move beyond conversations centred solely on representation and focus on creating environments where competence, merit, and effective leadership enable women to exercise meaningful influence.
Speaking during the panel session, Boardroom Access: Pathways to the Seat, held as part of the CEOs & Chairs Roundtable, Dr. Irune joined fellow panellists, including Prof. Olayinka David-West, Dean, Lagos Business School, and Christabel Onyejekwe, Chairman, African Prudential Plc, in discussing the importance of expanding women's access to board leadership.
“Having more women in boardrooms is an advantage for all of us. It is not a diversity issue, a parity issue, or a fairness issue. It is a business advantage. If you want the most proficient boardroom, having diverse perspectives around the table provides the best outcomes," he stated.
He noted that women bring distinct perspectives to board deliberations, strengthening governance by broadening discussions around strategy and risk while challenging conventional thinking. According to Dr Irune,"Women tend to ask the questions men never feel the need to ask. They break the status quo and challenge the way things have always been done, and that ultimately leads to better decisions.”
Drawing on his leadership experience at Oando, Dr. Irune observed that some of the most effective teams he has built have been largely female, reinforcing his belief that capability is not the barrier to women's advancement.
Reinforcing the need for organisations to complement inclusive leadership with robust governance systems, Folasade Ibidapo-Obe joined Ajibola Olomola, Partner & Head, Deal Advisory, M&A Tax & Legal, KPMG Nigeria; and Ben Afudego, Head, Governance and Risk, EY Nigeria, for the plenary session, The Governance Advantage: Why Institutions Fail. Ibidapo-Obe emphasized that institutions succeed when governance evolves from a compliance exercise into a strategic capability.
She stressed that embedding governance into business strategy strengthens accountability, enhances investor confidence, and improves access to financing through sound oversight and transparent decision-making.
Ibidapo-Obe also emphasised the importance of building institutions that can thrive beyond individual leaders, citing Oando's governance framework as a practical example. "At Oando, we build governance architecture that is independent of any one personality. We have a board-approved delegation of authority framework, so no single individual can approve transactions outside the Board's authorisation. That ensures the business continues seamlessly, regardless of who occupies a role," she noted.
She added that Oando's approach to succession planning extends beyond documentation to active implementation, with structured processes for identifying, developing, and preparing future leaders. " At Oando, it is more than succession planning; it is succession in practice. We deliberately identify and develop talent, expose future leaders to the Board, and regularly review our succession pipeline to ensure the organisation is prepared for leadership transitions," she remarked.
Through their contributions, both executives reinforced Oando's belief that sustainable organizations are built through strong governance, deliberate leadership development and institutions that endure beyond individuals. As businesses navigate increasingly complex operating environments, these principles remain central to Oando's approach to creating long term value.
