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Welcome to the 2026 Annual Corporate Governance Awards

Join us as we recognise exceptional individuals and institutions who embody excellence in corporate governance.

Nominations OPENS
on August 17th

Submit your Nominations
before September, 4th 2026

Nominations CLOSING

A tribute to Legacy

Celebrating excellence , integrity & ethical leadership.

The Corporate Governance Award celebrates individuals and organisations that have exhibited exceptional leadership, integrity, and a deep commitment to the principles of good corporate governance.

The 2nd Annual Corporate Governance Awards return with expanded categories, a refined evaluation process, and an elevated ceremony

In honour of the Founder of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Professor Fabian Ajogwu, OFR, SAN, and in recognition of his profound contributions to the advancement of corporate governance in Nigeria, the Awards have been institutionalised as a lasting tribute to his legacy and to preserve and immortalise his pivotal role in shaping the Society and corporate governance landscape. Click here to read more on Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, OFR, SAN

Winners of the Awards will be celebrated at the SCGN 2026 Annual President’s Dinner.

— Who We Are

About SCGN

The Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria is the leading organisation promoting good corporate governance practices in Nigeria. Since 2005, we have provided thought leadership, capacity building, and advocacy to enhance governance frameworks across sectors.

Our vision is a thriving, responsible, and ethical corporate sector that contributes to national development.

— How Recognition Is Structured

Two Tracks of Excellence; What's New?

Governance excellence manifests differently at the personal leadership level and at the organisational systems level. The Awards recognise both.

Individual Track

Recognising leaders whose conduct, judgement and influence advance the practice of good governance.

Institutional Track

Recognising organisations whose systems, board practices and culture embody governance at its best.

— Where We Started

Recap of the 2025 Maiden Awards.

The maiden edition attracted nominations across diverse sectors and was conducted to the highest standards of transparency and integrity.

34

Total nominations

3

Individual Awardees

3

Institutional Awardees

Independent Audit Partner

Ernst & Young (EY)

Regulatory Oversight

Financial Reporting Council (FRCN)

Meet the 2025 Individual Awardees

Gbeminiyi Shoda

Recognising outstanding leadership, ethical decision-making, and governance excellence at the personal level.

Adeolu Adewumi-Zer

Recognising outstanding leadership, ethical decision-making, and governance excellence at the personal level.

Ayokunle Ayoko

Recognising outstanding leadership, ethical decision-making, and governance excellence at the personal level.

Meet the 2025 Institutional Awardees

Celebrating companies and organisations that have institutionalised sound governance structures and practices.

Why Nominate?

Recognise Excellence. Inspire Change.

Nominating an individual or institution for the Annual Corporate Governance Awards is an opportunity to spotlight leadership that drives sustainable growth and responsible governance.

By submitting a nomination, you help:

  • Celebrate role models in corporate governance.
  • Set benchmarks for excellence.
  • Promote transparency, ethical practices, and accountability across sectors.
  • Inspire emerging leaders to uphold governance best practices.

— 2026 Award Categories

Eight categories, Two Tracks

Governance excellence manifests differently at the personal leadership level and at the organisational systems level. The Awards recognise both.

2026 Individual Awards Categories

MAIDEN
COMPETITIVE
1

Corporate Governance Champion of the Year

Award for directors, executives and governance professionals.

  • Embedding governance practice
  • Strategic leadership & impact
  • Innovation & career milestones
  • Board & management roles and tenure
  • SCGN & professional memberships
  • Qualifications & experience
NEW
COMPETITIVE
2

Company Secretary of the Year

Excellence in advisory governance, board support, compliance and stakeholder management.

  • Board-documentation quality
  • Entity-level reforms
  • Contribution to board effectiveness
NEW
HONORARY
3

Governance Icon Award

Exceptional lifetime contribution to advancing corporate governance, selected by the Committee.

  • Sustained 15+ year contribution
  • National policy influence
  • Mentorship & thought leadership
NEW
COMPETITIVE
4

Emerging / Young Director

Directors with under five years' board experience already showing governance leadership.

  • 2- 5 years experience on any board
  • Proactive governance role
  • Demonstrable early impact

2026 Institutional Awards Categories

MAIDEN
COMPETITIVE
1

Corporate Governance Excellence Award

Institutional award for companies demonstrating effectiveness across the governance pillars.

  • Diversity & inclusion policy
  • Internal controls & risk
  • ESG, CSR & value creation
  • Board leadership & structure
  • Shareholder rights & engagement
  • Accountability & transparency
NEW
COMPETITIVE
2

ESG Excellence Award

Outstanding Environmental, Social and Governance performance and disclosure.

  • Quality of ESG report
  • Board-level ESG oversight
  • Independent data assurance
NEW
COMPETITIVE
3

Rising Star Award (SME)

High-performing SMEs with strong governance systems and sustainable growth.

  • Formal governance structure
  • Culture & ethics programmes
  • Turnover below ₦500M
NEW
COMPETITIVE
4

Board Diversity & Inclusion

Exemplary board diversity, gender representation and inclusion practices.

  • Gender composition ≥ 40%
  • Age & regional diversity

Event Gallery

20th

20th

Anniversary Gala
20th

20th

Anniversary Gala

20th

20th

Anniversary Gala
20th

20th

Anniversary Gala
20th

20th

Anniversary Gala

Award Process Overview

Stage 1

Open Call

Nominations received via the dedicated Awards portal.

Stage 2

Invitation to Apply

Nominees notified and invited to submit applications.

Stage 3

Eligibility Review

Panel verifies eligibility, completeness & fit.

Stage 4

Final Selection

Committee approves recipients; honorary by direct selection.

Stage 5

Notification

Shortlist & recipients informed ahead of the ceremony

Before You Fill the Form

Dear Nominator,

Before you proceed, please take a moment to ensure you have the following
ready:

  • Full details of the nominee (Name, Position, Organisation)
  • Summary of the nominee’s achievements in corporate governance
  • Supporting documents, if any (Awards, Certifications, Reports)
  • Accurate contact details

Please note: All information submitted will be securely handled in accordance with data protection standards.
Ensure that your nomination is complete – incomplete submissions may not be considered.

Award Timeline

17th August

Nominations Open

4th September

Nominations Close

From 7th September

Evaluation and Shortlisting

24th November

Award Ceremony

Nominations CLOSED

FAQs

No. Self-nominations are not allowed. You must nominate another individual or organization.

Nominations must be submitted online through our official awards platform. You will need to complete the nomination form and upload any required supporting documents before the deadline.

You will typically need:

  • Nominee’s full name and contact details
  • A description of the nominee’s achievements and qualifications
  • Supporting documents (e.g. project summaries, references)
  • Your contact details as the nominator

No, submitting a nomination is free of charge.

Yes, you may nominate more than one individual or organization, but a separate form must be submitted for each nomination.

No, once a nomination has been submitted, it cannot be edited. Please review your submission carefully before finalizing it.

Yes, nominees will be notified once your submission has been reviewed and accepted

A strong nomination clearly outlines the nominee’s impact, achievements, and relevance to the award category. Use specific examples, data (if available), and testimonials to strengthen your case.

The nomination deadline is June 25 Late submissions will not be accepted.

You will receive a confirmation email upon submission. Shortlisted nominees will be announced on our website and contacted directly.

Please email us at info@corpgovnigeria.org or call 08037638141 if you need assistance.

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