Dr Patterson Lieme Ogon, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has assumed office as Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMNC).

Ogon assumed office following his election and the handover of administrative responsibilities at the chapter’s inaugural meeting, swearing-in ceremony and handover ceremony held on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

He pledged to promote professional excellence, ethical leadership and measurable results, while strengthening the institute’s contribution to professional development and strategic management.

Ogon said his administration would build on the achievements of previous executives and position the chapter as a platform for strategic thinking, intellectual development, collaboration and professional growth.

He stressed that every programme and initiative must have clear objectives, deliver tangible value and produce measurable outcomes through effective planning, implementation and evaluation.

The new chairman identified continuous professional development as a priority, noting that technological advancement, artificial intelligence and changing economic realities required professionals to remain adaptable and relevant.

He promised to promote seminars, workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions and mentorship programmes to equip members with the skills needed to respond to emerging professional challenges.

Ogon also called for stronger collaboration among members, state chapters, regional structures and the national leadership, urging members to contribute their expertise and ideas to the institute’s growth.

He pledged to uphold transparency, accountability and professional ethics, adding that chapter resources would be managed prudently in the collective interest of members.

Ogon urged members of his executive to serve with humility and integrity, stressing that the institute’s interests must remain above individual ambitions.

Earlier, the National President and Chairman-in-Council of ISMNC, Mr Ndudi Alex Enebeli, urged the new executive to build on the achievements of its predecessors and strengthen the chapter’s activities.

Enebeli expressed concern over declining participation in professional associations in Rivers, challenging the new leadership to develop strategies to re-engage members and encourage active involvement in the institute’s programmes.

He urged members to embrace the institute as a platform for continuous learning and professional development rather than participating only when its activities offered immediate personal benefits.

The national president identified communication, cooperation and collaboration as essential elements of effective leadership and teamwork.

He commended the outgoing executive for its contributions and urged its members to mentor and support the incoming leadership to ensure continuity and institutional growth.

Enebeli expressed satisfaction with the Rivers chapter’s contributions 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.

In his remarks, the immediate past chairman, Mr Nathan Excellence, thanked members of his executive committee for their support during his approximately two-year tenure.

Excellence said his administration was handing over a more structured institute with improved capacity to deliver on its objectives.

He expressed confidence that the new executive would consolidate the achievements of the outgoing administration and advance the institute’s professional development agenda.