The Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (Chartered) (ISMNC) in Rivers State is set to build itself into a legacy that members will proudly serve today and future generations will proudly inherit.
Patterson Ogon, the newly inaugurated chairman of the Rivers State Chapter, set the agenda for the new executive committee during a strategic meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The meeting served as an inaugural meeting, swearing-in ceremony and handover of administrative affairs of the institute.
ISMNC is a non-governmental, non-profit, independent professional, learning and research organisation with an extensive range of courses in Strategic Management, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Governance, and Digital Innovation that sets the pace for executive training and professional development.
Founded in 2003, and chartered in 2023, the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (Chartered) has been described as Africa’s premier institute for strategy crafting.
It has a mission to advance and promote knowledge and skills in the practice of strategic management, strategic leadership, strategic entrepreneurship, and governance through research, publications, education, training, certification, induction and regulation of students and members.
Its vision is to be a world-class professional body, a pan-African best reference in strategic management, and a key player in positioning Nigeria and Africa for leadership in the global society.
Ogon, who is the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was elected as the chairman of the Rivers State Chapter on July 23, 2026 at the Annual General Meeting of the institute in Lagos.
Strategic management is about employing a strategic framework to achieve both short-term and long-term business objectives consistently and efficiently.
While it may look easy on the surface, the actual execution of strategic management can easily result in confusion, particularly when businesses become large and complex.
The Brighton School of Business and Management, says that strategic management is where the resources available to an organisation are brought together.
The resources which include operations, marketing, research and development and other organisational functions are all analysed to best determine how they can be used to reach business goals.
Through strategic management, all company staff are made to have a clear understanding of what their roles will be for the goals of the organisation to be achieved.
And, Ogon is determined to build on the foundations laid by previous administrations and strengthen the institute’s contribution to professional development and strategic leadership within his two-year tenure.
He assured that his administration would position the chapter as a platform for professional excellence, strategic thinking, ethical leadership, intellectual development, collaboration and measurable impact, stressing that membership must provide meaningful opportunities for learning, contribution, networking, mentorship and professional growth.
‘Distinguished colleagues, leadership of a professional body is not simply about occupying an office; it is about accepting responsibility for people, institutions and the future.
‘ISMNC brings together professionals from diverse disciplines, sectors and areas of expertise. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and we must create an environment where knowledge is shared, ideas are exchanged, professionals collaborate and expertise is translated into meaningful value,’ he stated.
Declaring that strategy must translate into practical outcomes, Ogon pledged to ensure that every programme and initiative undertaken by the chapter has clear objectives, creates demonstrable value and delivers measurable results through a culture of planning, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement.
He identified continuous professional development as a major priority, noting that technological advancement, artificial intelligence, changing economic realities and evolving leadership expectations were reshaping the professional environment and requiring members to remain relevant and adaptable.
To address these emerging challenges, Ogon promised to promote seminars, workshops, knowledge-sharing and intellectual engagements while strengthening mentorship and intergenerational learning by combining the experience of established professionals with the fresh perspectives, technological awareness and innovative ideas of younger members.
He said: ‘The professional environment is changing rapidly. Technology, artificial intelligence, economic realities and changing leadership expectations are reshaping the workplace.
‘As a professional Institute, we must remain relevant. We will encourage continuous professional development, knowledge-sharing, seminars, workshops and intellectual engagements that equip our members to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
‘We will also strengthen mentorship and intergenerational learning. Our experienced professionals have valuable knowledge to transfer, while our younger professionals bring fresh perspectives, technology awareness and innovation.
When these strengths come together, the Institute becomes stronger.’
On collaboration and member engagement, he called for stronger relationships among members, state chapters, regional structures and the national leadership, urging members to contribute their ideas, expertise and professional opportunities to advance the Institute’s collective interests.
He also pledged to uphold transparency, accountability and professional ethics by operating within the institute’s established framework, maintaining responsible communication with national structures and ensuring that resources entrusted to the chapter were managed prudently in the interests of its members.
‘We also intend to strengthen collaboration among members, state chapters, regional structures and the National leadership.
We must move beyond simply attending meetings to actively participating in the development of the Institute.
‘If you have an idea, bring it forward. If you have expertise, share it. If you have an opportunity that can benefit the Institute, make it available. The strength of this chapter will ultimately depend on the collective commitment of its members,’ he said.
Ogon emphasised that the institute must remain greater than any individual office holder, and urged members of his executive to serve with humility, integrity and accountability while preserving existing achievements, improving areas requiring attention and creating new opportunities for institutional growth.
He pledged good governance, transparency, accountability and professional ethics as essential parts of his administration.
Ogon declared: ‘As we assume office, we recognise that good governance, transparency, accountability and professional ethics are essential.
‘We will operate within the established framework of the Institute, communicate responsibly with the relevant national structures and ensure that resources entrusted to us are managed in the best interest of the chapter and its members.
Our institution must always be greater than any individual office holder.’
Continuing, he stated: ‘Distinguished colleagues, the world around us is changing rapidly. Technology is transforming industries, artificial intelligence is reshaping professional practice, and leadership expectations are becoming increasingly demanding. In such an environment, strategic thinking is not an option; it is an imperative.
‘today marks the beginning of a new chapter for ISMNC Rivers State. As chairman, I make this commitment: We will lead with purpose. We will serve with integrity. We will promote knowledge. We will develop people. We will encourage collaboration. We will pursue measurable results. And we will place the interests of the Institute above personal interests. I invite every member to join us in this journey.
‘Let us build an ISMNC Rivers State Chapter that reflects the competence of its members, the excellence of its professionals and the strategic value of the Institute.
‘Let us build an institution that we will be proud to serve today and that future generations will be proud to inherit.’
Ogon expressed appreciation to the outgoing leadership for their service and contribution to the development of the chapter and acknowledged their achievements.
He also appreciated the National President and Chairman-in-Council, the Registrar/CEO, the Governing Board, Board of Fellows, National Executive Council, committee chairmen, state chapter chairmen, distinguished members and all our guests for honouring the occasion.
Inaugurating the Rivers State Chapter, Ndudi Alex Enebeli, National President and Chairman-in-Council of ISMNC, welcomed the leadership transition, describing the chapter as particularly significant to him and emphasizing that incoming executives must build on the achievements and foundations established by their predecessors.
Enebeli expressed concern over growing apathy among members of professional bodies in Rivers State and challenged the new executive to develop effective strategies to re-engage members and encourage greater participation in the Institute’s activities.
He urged members to embrace the Institute as a platform for continuous learning and professional development rather than participating only when individual programmes offered an immediate personal benefit, encouraging them to take advantage of its capacity-building opportunities to improve themselves and contribute more effectively to society.
Identifying communication, cooperation and collaboration as three essential elements of successful leadership and teamwork, he commended the outgoing executive for its contributions, urged its members to mentor and support the new leadership, and encouraged the chapter to harness its members’ expertise to strengthen professional development outcomes.
Enebeli also expressed satisfaction with the Rivers State Chapter’s contribution to the Institute’s national leadership, noting that it had produced the national president and had been recognised as the Institute’s best-performing chapter in successive periods.
Nathan Excellence, the immediate past chairman of the chapter, thanked his executive committee for its support during approximately two years in office, declaring that the administration was handing over a more structured institute with improved capacity to deliver while expressing confidence that the new executive would build on the foundation laid by its predecessor.