Osinbajo: Sound Business Ethics Crucial to Building Viable Enterprises

Osinbajo: Sound Business Ethics Crucial to Building Viable Enterprises

By Adedayo Akinwale

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said business ethics are not just moral preachments but important foundations for profitable and sustainable businesses in the 21st Century.

He added that the development and sustenance of viable enterprises was no longer dependent on the size of the corporation and related factors, but sound ethical practices imbibed by all stakeholders.

Osinbajo stated this at the virtual 2020 Conference of the Institute of Directors.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a statement said Osinbajo noted that in countries where regulatory oversight and law enforcement is weak or slow, there would seem to be, at least, in the short term, no particular advantage in choosing ethical behavior over profit.

Osinbajo stated: “The frequent clashes between conscience and wrongful behavior will eventually create a toxic work environment and destroy corporate objectives and visions. There is also enough history of how cutting corners and dishonesty ultimately bring down the whole enterprise. This we have seen in the facts behind the collapse of many Nigerian financial institutions from the 90s to the more recent occurrences in 2009. Yes, it took a while for the institutions to unravel but the point is made that on the long run, unethical practices are unsustainable.

“Besides for quoted companies, the dangers of unethical behavior are much graver. Local and international investors have greater access to information and more options than ever before, the slightest whiff of scandal or malfeasance can destroy value built up over the years.

The Vice President stressed that local and especially the international examples of the collapse of companies thought to be too big to fail and brand names that had even once been associated with integrity and strong business ethics is a strong reminder of just how brittle edifices built on weak business ethics are.

According to him, “today, every company’s stakeholders are far more than investors, management, or employees. They now include customers, clients, trade partners, suppliers, media, the general public, government and now, the environment.

The event featured presentations personalities including Prof. Marc Le Menestrel, a professor of Decision Sciences; Chairman of Governing Council, Institute of Directors, Chief Chris Okunowo; and Dele Alimi, DG/CEO, Institute of Directors.

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