Sunday Okobi
The Director General of West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Professor Akpan Ekpo, has stated that computer knowledge and skills are key to information management.
The don who stated this at the commencement of a one-week regional course on Computer Application in accounting, auditing and financial management organised by WAIFEM in Lagos, stressed the need for the participants to be abreast of modern trends and technology in computer knowledge and applications.
The participants who were divided into two groups-Francophone and Anglophone-were drawn from the West Africa sub-regions, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra, The Gambia, Togo, Republic of Benin, and Cameroon.
The director general maintained that information plays what he called a “vital and pervasive roles†in any organisation and those involved must be adept in it.
According to him, “In organisations, information plays a vital and pervasive role. Organisations are co-operatives systems with a high level of information processing and a vast need for decision making at various levels. Thus information is a key resource for any organisation. By means of information, strategic and operational plans are promoted, competitive advantage is gained and change management is effectively implemented.â€
He stated that the course was designed to acquaint the participants with modern information technology tools applied in accounting, auditing, and financial management. In addition, the course will provide guidance on how to audit the most critical risks of standard computer systems.
Ekpo explained that among other things, the attendees are expected to have an overview of accounting and financial management; the role of computer accounting, auditing and financial management; accounting and auditing techniques and procedures in computerised accounting information system as well as modeling and financial data analysis with spreadsheet.
He enjoined them to take advantage of their courses to explore the social life in Nigeria so that they can have a better knowledge of the country rather than relying on what they read on media.
