Pursue excellence without compromise, ICAN tells accountants
The 61st President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mallam Haruna Yahaya, has called on accounting professionals to uphold the highest standards of integrity and diligence in their work, urging them to “pursue excellence without compromise.” He made the charge as the Institute joined other professionals around the world to commemorate International […]
The 61st President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mallam Haruna Yahaya, has called on accounting professionals to uphold the highest standards of integrity and diligence in their work, urging them to “pursue excellence without compromise.”
He made the charge as the Institute joined other professionals around the world to commemorate International Accounting Day 2025, with the South-West regional celebration hosted at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
Represented at the occasion by the immediate past president of the Institute, Chief DCS Alaribe, Yahaya said the day was an opportunity to recognise the vital role accountants play in ensuring the financial stability of businesses, governments, and communities.
He explained that the occasion commemorates the 1494 publication of Luca Pacioli’s historic work on double-entry bookkeeping, which laid the foundation for modern financial management.
According to him, “It reminds us that long before the age of artificial intelligence and analytics, the accountant’s pen was already shaping the course of human progress through discipline, accuracy, and integrity.”
The ICAN President paid tribute to the over 67,000 members of the Institute who, he said, continue to uphold the profession’s core values of transparency, professionalism, and excellence.
“Your unwavering commitment to transparency, professionalism, and excellence continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s public and private sectors alike. You are indeed worthy ambassadors of the profession and custodians of trust,” he said.
Yahaya also commended the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA), and the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) for their collaborative efforts in advancing global standards.
The ICAN President urged accountants to see themselves as moral guides in their various spheres of influence.
“As we celebrate today, let us renew our resolve to pursue excellence without compromise – to be the moral compass in boardrooms, the trusted advisors in policy circles, and the innovators driving financial transformation and strategies in the digital era,” he charged.
The Dean of the School of Management and Business Studies and Council Member of YABATECH, Dr Fadipe Adeniyi Olubunmi, expressed delight that the college was chosen as host for the 2025 celebration.
Fadipe revealed that about 80 per cent of lecturers in the Accountancy Department are ICAN fellows, ensuring that the department’s curriculum aligns with global best practices and the digital transformation shaping the profession.
He disclosed that two students, still in school, have recently qualified as ICAN members, a proud achievement for the department and evidence of YABATECH’s academic rigour.