WORKSHOP FOR BUDDING COMPANY SECRETARIES

Every economy is divided into two broad segments namely the Public Sector and the Private Sector. The Private Sector is the main engine of growth and development which provides much of the needed funds through savings, investments and loans, with which the Public Sector undertakes infrastructural and social service projects. These days the Private Sector even contributes to the development of social amenities under the principle of corporate social responsibility and public/private partnership.

The Private Sector is synonymous with entrepreneurship, which thrives on efficiency and good order. The brain behind any business is the Board of Directors, a body sometimes called by other names. The body simply denotes the persons who direct the affairs of the business, including the recruitment of professional managers where the ownership of the enterprise is separated from the Management. This group of persons ensures that organizations function smoothly and meet the expectations of all their stakeholders.

Much of the co-ordination or organization of the activities of the Board rests on the shoulders of the Company Secretary. Except for persons disqualified under Section 257 and 258 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (the Act), anybody can be a Director. It is therefore imperative that a Company Secretary possesses requisite knowledge and experience to be able to guide and advise Board members in the discharge of their lawful duties. The Act in section 295 makes it mandatory for Company Secretaries of public companies to be members of at least one of the following professional bodies:

•  The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators

•  The Nigerian Bar Association

•  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria

The Company Secretary in recording the proceedings of meetings also acts as the company's historian or archivist, a key factor in ensuring perpetuity and enhancing growth through mergers cum acquisitions, restructuring schemes and other business arrangements. These processes can only go smoothly if the Company Secretary is absolutely diligent in his/her

functions, which include the provision of a link between the company and its shareholders as well as the general public.

Would you like to have an insight into the functions of a Company Secretary and the career prospects for practitioners? Then you will be interested in this workshop which intends to operate interactive 2-day sessions, for small groups. You will be interacting with adept practitioners and the crème de la crème of the Boardroom, in activities such as mock Board and Annual General Meetings. Key members of the Training Team will include:

1) Dr. M.O. Omolayole - A doyen of the Boardroom, he will chair the sessions

2) Mrs. Gloria Abugo - A seasoned Legal Practitioner and Chartered Secretary

3) Mrs. P.O. Fagbure - An experienced Chartered Accountant with long years

of Corporate Secretarial cum Governance exposure.

The programme will cost N40,000 per 2 – day session. We intend to run small groups of the order of 10 participants. The first session will run from Monday 6 th September, 2010 till Tuesday 7 th September, 2010.

The workshop will operate at our office, 46 TOWN PLANNING WAY, ILUPEJU, LAGOS (opposite Zain, along PZ Gardens) from 9:00am till 5:00p.m each day. Registration will be on the basis of first come, first served as there is a limited number of places.

For further enquiries, please contact the following persons:

Stanley: 08056143182, Ibrahim: 07064956147

Or, visit our website on www.omolayoleandassociates.org to download your form.

Yours truly,