*Extols virtues of Sheik Hafeez Abou at 101
*ICAN laments falling interest in accounting profession, commends Diri for boosting enrollment
Deji Elumoye in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos
President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with the doyen of accounting in Nigeria and Africa, Chief Akintola Williams, as he celebrates 104th birthday.
The president, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, shared the special moment with all friends and professional associates of the elder statesman, whose vision and resilience had altered the history of Nigeria for the better, by establishing the first indigenous accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co., in 1952, which has extended services to many countries.
Tinubu affirmed the historic role of Williams in the establishment of several private and public institutions in the country, such as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAN) as well as his contributions to democracy and good governance.
The president noted that Williams began his impactful journey early on as a founding member of Egbé omo Odùduwà, along with late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others.
Egbé omo Odùduwà was at the forefront of the struggle for Nigeria’s Independence, which eventually transited into one of the first political parties, the Action Group.
As the chartered accountant turned 104, Tinubu believed his presence and wisdom would continue to inspire the younger generation toward imbibing the timeless values of integrity, hard work, and long-term vision, especially with respect to national development.
The president prayed for the continued excellent health of Williams and his beloved family.
In another birthday message, President Tinubu extolled the leadership and devotion to Allah exemplified by Sheik Hafeez Abou, the Executive Chairman of Lagos Central Mosque, on the celebration of his 101st birthday.
He praised the cleric for his many years of educating the Muslim faithful on all tenets of Islam, even as he has advanced the progress and development of Lagos State and Nigeria through his teachings, which promote peace, harmony and national unity.
Describing the highly respected cleric as a fountain of wisdom whose sense of commitment and duty has not diminished despite his advanced age, the President prayed to God to strengthen Sheik Abou and grant him good health.
Meanwhile, ICAN has lamented that youths are now losing interest in the accounting profession and preferring professional footballing, music and social media influencing.
This view was expressed recently by the 59th President of ICAN, Dr. Innocent Okwuosa, during his courtesy call on the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, whom he commended for initiating a scholarship programme that is encouraging youths to pursue a career in accounting.
Okwuosa, who was received by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrud, said one of the challenges facing accounting was how to attract young ones into the profession.
He said: “The youths no longer find accounting profession attractive as professions like football, music, social media influencing and others that will make them rich overnight. But through the Accounting Technicians Scheme of West Africa (ATSWA) initiative of the institute, the Bayelsa State’s district of ICAN with the support of the state government has been able to attract many young people into the accounting profession in Nigeria.”
He said the state government had provided scholarship to young indigenes of Bayelsa to write the ICAN’s ATSWA examination, which is a middle level accounting qualification for school certificate and Ordinary National Diploma (OND) holders, from where they proceed to the professional examination of the institute.
Okwuosa noted that Diri’s administration had enabled 126 students who have benefitted from the initiative of the state government to join the accounting profession.
“Some of these students have proceeded to the professional examination of the institute and qualified as chartered accountants,” he said, adding that other state governors should emulate what Diri has done.
He also thanked the governor for appointing over 100 chartered accountants into the state’s civil service workforce and appealed to him to consider appointing more chartered accountants into the state’s service because it is the right thing to do.
According to him “the result of our research shows that there is a positive relationship between having more chartered accountants within a workforce and increased revenue generation and efficiency in service delivery of the government.”
In his response, the deputy governor on behalf of the state governor expressed appreciation to ICAN for acknowledging the effort of the state in educational empowerment of the youth of which the ICAN ATSWA is a beneficiary.
