CRMI To Mark 25th Anniversary With Global Risk Conference, Youth Challenge In Lagos

The Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a major international conference in Lagos, as experts and industry leaders converge to explore how effective risk management can strengthen organisational resilience and competitiveness.

The two day 25th Annual International Conference and Silver Jubilee Celebration is scheduled for October 14 and 15 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The conference will feature the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, as Special Guest of Honour, while the Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Dr Armstrong Ume Takang, will deliver the keynote address.

The event is expected to attract policymakers, regulators, chief executives, chief risk officers, academics, development partners and representatives of risk management institutions from across Africa and beyond.

In a statement signed by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of CRMI, Dr Victor Olannye, FCRM, the institute said the conference would provide a platform for stakeholders to examine emerging risks and strategies for building stronger and more adaptable organisations.

President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CRMI, Kevin Ugwuoke, said the profession had evolved significantly over the past 25 years, moving from a largely back-office function to a critical boardroom responsibility.

According to him, organisations must now go beyond identifying and managing threats to using risk management as a strategic advantage.

He said the conference would focus on what CRMI described as the “resilience edge,” particularly at a time Nigerian businesses are facing economic reforms, technological disruption, changing regulations, climate-related pressures and increasing cyber threats.

Plenary sessions, panel discussions and technical workshops will examine how organisations can anticipate disruptions, adjust strategies and recover from shocks while maintaining their competitive position.

A key innovation at this year’s conference is the maiden University Risk Management Challenge, which will give students from Nigerian universities an opportunity to tackle real world risk management scenarios.

The participating teams will present their analysis and proposed solutions before a panel of experienced practitioners, with winners to receive financial grants, academic recognition and professional development opportunities.

Ugwuoke said the initiative was part of CRMI’s strategy to identify and nurture the next generation of risk professionals.

He noted that the future of the profession would be shaped by young people currently in universities, stressing the need to expose them to practical risk management before they enter the job market.

The anniversary activities will climax on October 15 with a 25th Anniversary Award and Dinner Night, where individuals and organisations that have contributed to the growth of risk management in Nigeria will be recognised.

Awards will be presented in categories including Institutional Leadership in Risk Advocacy, Human Capacity Development in Risk Management, Risk Regulation Excellence, Chief Risk Officer of the Year, Digital and Cyber Risk Management Excellence, Young Risk Professional of the Year, and Excellence in Security Risk Management and National Security.

CRMI said the awards were designed to promote best practices and establish higher standards for corporate resilience, regulatory compliance and national security preparedness.

The institute said the event would further strengthen professional collaboration among risk management practitioners in Nigeria, Africa and the international development community.