Ikoyi Club 1938 Marks 85 Years With  Vision for the Future

Iyke Bede

As Ikoyi Club 1938 recently commemorated its 85th anniversary through a series of week-long activities, the distinguished social and recreational institution, leaned inward to review its longevity plans that include wooing and absorbing new generations of members.

Over time, the club has maintained this tradition of evolving, just as it did with transforming the once strictly European establishment into an inclusive entity. The milestone anniversary saw it seeking the expert ideas of leaders drawn from different sectors, to provide insight at its symposium tagged ‘Managing Change in Ageing Institutions.’

 Former governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, who spoke at the occasion, emphasised the role teamwork plays in shaping an organisation, noting that it boils down to “the ability to get a large number of people to work according to a specified rule of engagement and action.”

To attract a new generation of members, Partner, People & Change KPMG Advisory Service,  Boluwaji Apanpa reiterated the need for the organisation to be creative in their all-round approach.

“In the aspect of recruitment, we need to get creative, that’s how we attract them. Now, when they come in, how do we support and help them flourish in their careers? We need policies. Policies are the principles. The policies show all the activities from end to end, and all these must be aligned to our objectives.”

Apanpa further noted that the Ikoyi Club must find a way to cross-fertilise ideas between old and new leaders, with performance compensation in mind.

In a similar vein, Deputy Head,  Operations, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mrs. Olufunke Amobi, advised that the institution must take into account evolutions in the workforce and what forges them. She explained that the existing members must take into cognizance the role technology plays on the ‘global platform,’ and how it influences the exchange of ideas and blurs the geographical boundaries of global business. In her presentation, she emphasised that the transition they seek is the responsibility of leadership.

CEO of Corporate Shepard, Idy Enang, highlighted the significance of diversity and inclusion as essential elements for Ikoyi Club 1938 to thrive in our globalized world. In line with this, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Lead Partner at CMC Connect LLP, suggested that conducting periodic surveys would be a valuable approach to achieving these goals.

CEO, Kennings Home Ltd., David Majekodunmi surmises that for Ikoyi Club 1938 to continue to play a prominent role in the cultural and social life of Lagos, a review of its physical and digital infrastructure must be prioritised.