The 59th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Innocent Okwuosa, has urged professional accountants to utilize their expertise in addressing economic challenges and contributing to the recovery of the economy.
Okwuosa made this call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the annual dinner and award night organized by ICAN Nyanya-Mararaba and District Society in Abuja on Sunday.
He said ICAN members could be part of the positive change in the country.
Okwuosa, who was represented by Lucy Okena, Council Member and District Coordinator, said that it was important for accountants to use their expertise to tackle the economic challenges in the country.
“The nation has no doubt created new opportunities and also many challenges; these challenges spur us to double our efforts to keep the institute on an upward trajectory and maintain the integrity which is key in our profession.
“It is imperative to emphasise our continuous service to humanity both as an individual and a group which is much more needed at this crucial period of the nation.
“In this hard time, implementing what you have to begin the change, create an intervention in the lives of people to alleviate their sorrowful state will make a lot of difference and save lives.
“If you are powerful and it doesn’t improve humanity, then it is a waste, be humble, life is a journey, no matter how great a person is, never forget humanity.
“Be part of that positive change by giving service to humanity,” he said.
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Also speaking, the 3rd District Chairman, ICAN Nyanya-Mararaba and District Society, Mr Yahaya Akeem, also called on professional accountants to be conscious of their actions and perform their duties with integrity and accountability.
“Our message is very clear in ICAN and that is accountability and transparency, once we are all accountable, the country will be fine.
“All the issues we are having are because the ethical values have been lost but if accountants can uphold the institute’s code of ethics, we will get there.
“Ethics is all about doing the right thing all the time, we all need to do things right and we will see that all the issues we are having in the country will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Earlier, a Financial and Management Expert, Mr Adeshile Richard, who spoke on the topic, “The role of Professional Accountants in a Digitalised Economy’’ added that it was important for accountants to embrace the digital economy as they carry out their financial service in the country.
“As professional accountants, we need to do things of public interest and provide service to humanity even as we make our daily earnings.
“However, the digital economy is the future of things, which means we have to start preparing ourselves to take advantage of the benefits in this sector,” he said.
On his part, Immediate Past Chairman, of ICAN Nyanya-Mararaba and District Society, Mr Adewale Adeagbo, added that the event was organised to recognise the contributions of persons who have contributed to the growth of the district.
“The major criteria we used in selecting the awardees is by looking at their contributions to the growth of the district.
“Also, for those who are made patrons of the district, we want them to continuously give us advice on how to grow the district and be better at what we do,” he added.
NAN
