Uto Ukpanah FCIS stands as an exemplary figure in the realm of corporate governance, currently serving as the Company Secretary of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, a company listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). Mrs Ukpanah received the first-ever Global Secretary of the Year Award instituted by the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA) in April 2024. Her distinguished career, spanning leadership roles at MTN Nigeria and various other institutions, showcases her visionary leadership and tireless commitment to promoting sound governance practices in the business sector.

Before joining MTN, she had a fulfilling career as Assistant Company Secretary of United Bank for Africa Plc, as well as other entities in the financial services sector and legal practice at Paul Usoro and Co. and Ukiri & Co., both Lagos-based law firms. Her achievements embody excellence and innovation in the field of corporate governance. MTN Nigeria is part of the MTN Group, which operates in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East. Uto also serves as Company Secretary for MTN Nigeria Foundation and provides operational governance support to MTN Nigeria’s related entities, including Yello Digital Financial Services Limited, XS Broadband Limited, and Momo Payment Service Bank Limited.

Leadership at MTN Nigeria

Under Uto’s stewardship, MTN Nigeria achieved unprecedented milestones, becoming the first and only company to list directly on the Premium Board of the Nigerian Exchange Limited. Her strategic guidance extended to MTN Nigeria’s diverse group entities, where she played a pivotal role in their governance and sustainability efforts, earning the Company the prestigious Most Compliant Company on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in 2023. The Company has been recognised in other categories in prior and subsequent years, establishing a track record of its commitment to good governance. Additionally, MTN Nigeria was awarded the 2023 Corporate Governance Award by the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria and the 2025 Gold award in Corporate Reporting by the Nigeran Exchange Limited.

Through her efforts MTN has focused on encouraging its vendors to embed sustainability into their operations. The Company provided free access to toolkits, enabling vendors to assess their ESG readiness.

ICSAN Footprint

Uto’s impact extends beyond MTN Nigeria as evidenced by her rise to the position of the 30th President/Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN). She is the second woman to become President in the Institute’s almost 60-year history. She has been involved in implementing reforms, rejuvenating operations to encourage new membership and expand the footprint of ICSAN across Nigeria. In addition to her statutory responsibilities as Vice President, Mrs Ukpanah was also the first Council Member to be given the responsibility of chairing three committees:

i. Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference Committee

ii. Finance and General-Purpose Committee, and

iii. Building Committee, which is responsible for the conception and construction of an iconic National Secretariat for ICSAN.

Sensitivity: Public

As chair of the Building Committee, she has rigorously championed the National Secretariat Building project from design conception to construction.

Corporate Governance Participation

Throughout her career, Mrs Ukpanah has been actively involved in the development and implementation of corporate governance codes across various sectors in Nigeria. Some of these are as follows:

i. Secretary to the Committee on Corporate Governance for Banks and Financial Institutions of the Bankers’ Committee, which developed the Corporate Governance Guidelines for that sector, subsequently adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2003.

ii. Member of the Committee that developed the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies in Nigeria 2011.

iii. Member of the Presidential Committee on the Codes of Corporate Governance for the Public, Private and Not-for-profit sectors in 2013.

iv. Member of the Technical Committee on Corporate Governance set up by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria that developed the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018.

Global Footprint /Board involvement

Mrs Ukpanah is a widely sought-after public speaker. In 2023, she was a distinguished panellist at the INSEAD (Africa Initiative)/Risk Insights forum on ESG: Driving Positive Change in Africa.

Beyond national borders, Mrs Ukpanah’s involvement in developing global best practice guidelines, notably under the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), positions her as a thought leader and advocate for business ethics. She has served as a UNGC delegate to the Russian Federation. She is the Vice Chairman of the Board of the United Nations Global Compact Nigeria Network. For several years, she served as a judge for the UK-based C5 Women in Compliance Awards.

She is a Certified Ethics Officer at The Ethics Institute, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. An alumnus of the University of Cross River State (now University of Uyo) and Lagos Business School, Mrs Ukpanah co-founded Cemuoa Limited, which has had a significant impact on the cassava value chain, empowering farmers in rural communities.

In addition to ICSAN, she is a member of other professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association.

Commitment to Education and Mentorship

Her commitment to education is further exemplified by her appointment as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Obong University, in January 2023. Through various platforms, she actively promotes access to digital learning resources, provides mentorship to students and young professionals, particularly women, embodying the values of excellence and leadership. She provides tuition to disadvantaged students in secondary and tertiary institutions through various channels and is passionate about digital and financial inclusion, particularly among women and youth in rural communities.

Recognitions

Sensitivity: Public

The CSIA Global Corporate Secretary of the Year has received many recognitions and awards. In June 2023, she was recognised and honoured as Woman of Excellence at the Top Performing Women Conference in Nigeria. Mrs Ukpanah was named the Company Secretary of the Year 2021 at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards. She has been recognised thrice as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Uyo by the Alumni Association.