We designed and ran a high-level retreat for the Chairman, Director-General and senior Board Members from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). NIMASA’s senior team explored all the critical elements of good corporate governance, how effective boards work best, decision-making structures, organisational culture, risk and scrutiny of operations, financial oversight and how to avoid corporate failure. The feedback was excellent and NIMASA representatives were very appreciative of the high quality of the presenters and the value of the discussions, which they said will enable them to take NIMASA to the next stage in its development.