The Institute was established in Britain in 1891, Chartered in 1902. It is the leading professional body for Company Secretaries and Corporate Administrators in the Public, Private and Voluntary Sectors and acts as the professional forum for 44,000 members and 28,000 students worldwide.

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) is a professional body dedicated to excellence in corporate governance and public administration. It is an offshoot of the international body with its headquarters in London.