Virtual Meetings and the Emerging Role of Company Secretaries in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

While virtual company meetings began with the emergence of video conferencing tools, their relevance was not fully felt until the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the whole world, shutting down businesses and physical gatherings. Thus, company meetings have taken a new dimension, especially in the western world. The adoption of virtual systems in organising or attending these meetings has a mixed impact on the responsibilities of company secretaries and their role in the transparency of company procedures. What measures have been implemented to ensure the role evolves with the changing times? What facilities might be employed to aid the company secretary’s performance? The paper explored how the company secretary’s role adapted to the difficulties of conducting its duties in virtual meetings during COVID-19. It adopted the doctrinal research methodology. The study concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic experience had a tangible effect on the role of company secretaries and company meetings in Nigeria and thus, called for an improvement in how company meetings are carried out. The study recommends that the legislature revise the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 to reflect express provisions on virtual meetings for private and public companies. There should also be training for company secretaries, directors, and shareholders on the use of technology and how to use the pieces of equipment necessary to foster virtual meetings. Companies should also incorporate information technology (IT) governance in their corporate governance strategy.