TPL Emmanuel Chike Asadu, has been inaugurated as the pioneer Chairman of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, (APBN) Enugu State Chapter.
During his investiture and the inauguration of the new executive in Enugu recently, the National President, APBN, Sir Manason Rubaino, emphasized the need for members to uphold ethics of their professions even at extreme situations, bearing in mind that they were working for the interest of the society
According to Rubaino, “professions are created for society to work, you’re working on behalf of the society not for selfish interest, render services professionally.
“The country is sick today because professionals have compromised ethics of their profession, it is high time we stopped calling names and stood by what is right.”
Rubaino said the association would continue to provide a platform for Nigerian professionals to attain high level performance in the bid to fulfil the social contract between the professions and the society, as well as enhance the growth and development of the country.
APBN National President said the association had 32 professions in its enclave, insisting that members could change the narratives in the country, if only they held onto the ethics of their professions.
He added that with the inauguration of Enugu, it had been automatically inducted into the board of APBN.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman APBN, Enugu Chapter, Mr. Asadu, said professional bodies had pivotal roles to play in shaping the corporate governance
environment beyond what was obtainable today.
He said he would ensure that the body worked collaboratively with the government to bring the deserved development in the state.
The Enugu APBN state chairman advised members to maintain standards in their various fields of specialties.
“Let us shout what is right governance-wise loud, and shout it proud because no other organization
can rival the levels of integrity and professionalism of the professional bodies in your chosen
field.
“Now is our time, my noble professionals to push forward. Let us step forward and make ourselves heard and get the attention of policy makers,” he said.
Asadu further commended the National President of APBN, saying that the struggle to get all the professional bodies involved in the task ahead was a continuous process and should not rest to bring all hands on deck.
In an interview, the 1st Vice Chairman, APBN, and Chairman, organising committee, Dr. Ejiofor Breden Mamah, and the 2nd Vice Chairman, Arch. Nwankwo Nnaemeka, expressed joy that the association had been inaugurated, pledging to work together with their colleagues to promote professionalism.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Peter Achukwu, said inauguration of Enugu APBN marked a major union of purpose for a practical and working Nigeria in the history of the profession, adding that he felt privileged to witness the inauguration while expressing optimism that the new executive would do well.
“Therefore, let us, each of us in attendance at this inauguration, now embrace this new dawn with solemn duty and awesome joy. With this, we will maintain our economic vitality and our treasure. Our forests, environment, water ways, health, social order and rule of law etc.
“By doing the above, we will uplift and uphold our practices and values through cooperative and harmonious engagements thereby lifting suspicious and fear among practitioners and promoting cordiality, conviviality and congeniality in our time,” he said.
In a keynote address, a science diplomat, and executive director, LEAD Network Africa, Mr. Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa, who spoke on the topic, “the roles of professional bodies on good governance and national development,” said professionals in the country had a duty to ensure that the right things and due process were followed at all times no matter who was involved.
APBN is the umbrella body of recognised professional institutes, institutions and associations promoting a new era of cooperation, among professionals in Nigeria.
APBN was given official Federal Government recognition as the third leg of the tripod of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Nigeria.
