President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Dr Christiana Atako has disclosed that only deserving Nigerians are conferred the Institute’s Fellows award every year.
Speaking at this year’s edition tagged, ‘Awards, Fellows and Spouses’ Day Luncheon’, Mrs Atako who described the event as very important in the anal of the Institute’s calendar disclosed that it is a ceremony where qualified and deserving members are conferred the highest and most prestigious professional membership grade of the Institute.
She added that it is also an avenue for the old Fellows to meet, socialize and celebrate with one another and receive new Fellows into their fold.
According to her, the tradition of upgrading members to Fellow cadre started in February 1963 when the first three Fellows of the Institute were elected and inducted.
“The process of upgrading members to Fellow has always been meticulous and that is the reason only those who are truly deserving of the award get honoured yearly.”
Mrs Atako said in order for the Institute to take advantage of Fellows’ professional competencies, they have been classified into Faculties which include Leadership and Governance; Technology and Communication; Education and Social Development; Finance, Accounts and Management Audit; Planning Economics and Management, and Safety, Health and Environment Management.
“The Faculties are expected to identify issues and challenges in areas related to their disciplines, and propose studies of such issues with a view to making policy recommendations to the government via the Institute’s public policy advocacy initiative.
“Like the old Fellows, everyone being upgraded today will be duly informed of their faculty.”
She noted that Fellows of the Institute have been contributing to its body of knowledge through the newly introduced Fellows’ Forum where contemporary issues concerning management, leadership and governance are discussed monthly on Zoom Meeting Platform.
“I encouraged Fellows to continue in this regard as it is one of the routes of giving vent to the important decision of Council to establish Fellows’ Faculties.
She further congratulated the Institute’s elder statesmen and women who received Life Membership award at the event for keeping faith with the Institute over the years.
To qualify for Life Membership award, the member must have attained the age of 70, served the Institute and the nation selflessly, adjudged to be without blemish, be financially up-to-date in the payment of his or her annual membership subscription as well as met other statutory obligations to the Institute consistently.
“This recognition and award come as an appreciation to the recipients for believing in the Institute as shown by their undying passion and devotion to its affairs in the years past.
Mrs. Atako concluded by hinting that the 2024 Annual National Management Conference (ANMC) of the Institute will be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in September, with the theme ‘Economic Stability and National Security: The Contending Issues and the Way forward’.
