Accountants tasked on nation building as ICAN honours fellows

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has charged members to be unrelenting in ensuring corporate governance practices across the three tiers of the Nigerian public sector for transparency in governments’ transactions and winning the war against corruption.

The 53rd President of ICAN; Alhaji Ismaila Zakari, made the call at the 2018 yearly dinner and awards of the institute held at the weekend in Lagos. He said professional accountants must fasten their seat belt for the nation to thrive through playing a strategic role in the country’s emerging economic dynamics.

He said; “All of us including those in the ICAN council must fasten our seat belt for the institute and the nation to thrive through playing our strategic role in the country’s economic dynamics. We have taken several steps among which is the development of ICAN’s accountability index for the country in line with our promise to be actively involved in initiating various indices for accountability measures. The indexes is aimed at improving the process of assessing public finance management and corporate governance practices across the three tiers of the Nigerian public sector and ensure transparency and accountability in government transactions. When it is implemented, it will help in the fight against corruption.”

The recipients of the awards include; management of the University College, Ibadan and the Faith Foundation in the corporate award category, the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Williams Babatunde for non-member category, the minister for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; the 19th Akarigbo of Remo Kingdom, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; the Chief Finance Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isiaka and the past chairperson of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Mrs. Margaret Unubun for member award category.

Others are the posthumous awards given to the families of late Alhaji Zubair Abdullah and late Mrs. Uchenna Erobu.

The ICAN president explained that the Institute organised the awards for outstanding personalities, who has contributed immensely to nation building and accounting profession in the country. He noted that chartered accountants play important roles in the society especially in Nigeria, where they have being active in every sphere of the economy with particular reference to; government, industry, education, audit and professional services.

“The impact of accountants in nation building is felt. For instance, the minister of Finance in Nigeria is a chartered accountant and member of ICAN and everybody is seeing the role that she is playing between 2015 till now in trying to improve the nations’ economy especially when the country went through economic recession. She was part of the team and she brought in some many new initiatives that have helped to take Nigeria out of that tumultuous experience”, he said.

To him, over the years the programme has provided a relaxed atmosphere for professional accountant, colleagues from other industry, family and broad based stakeholders from outside Nigeria to interact and discuss issues of mutual concern with overarching impact.

In her address of acceptance of the award behalf of colleagues, the minister of Finance; Mrs. Kemi Adeosun appreciated the institute for the initiative noting that it serves as an encouragement to contribute more in public service and for the growth and development of Nigeria at large.