ICAN welcomes over 2,000 new members in Lagos, highlighting ethics, professionalism, and excellence in Nigeria’s accounting profession
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria welcomed more than 2,000 new members on Wednesday in a grand induction ceremony at the ICAN Centre, Lagos, celebrating the next generation of the nation’s financial professionals.
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ICAN President and Chairman of the Council, Mallam Haruna Yahaya, congratulated the inductees for their perseverance and dedication. He noted that the ceremony increased ICAN’s membership to 69,903.
“This moment is not just a milestone; it is a testament to your courage, your discipline, and your unwavering commitment to greatness,” Yahaya said, urging members to uphold integrity and professionalism in handling sensitive financial information.
Highlighting the importance of ethical conduct, Yahaya warned that lapses could have serious legal, financial, or commercial consequences.
He encouraged the inductees to pursue lifelong learning and join one of ICAN’s eight professional faculties, specialising in areas such as taxation, audit, corporate finance, and public financial management.
The Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, emphasised accountants’ critical role in promoting governance and transparency.
“Professional accountants play a crucial role in national development by ensuring financial integrity and compliance,” Barau said, urging new members to resist pressures that could compromise their professional conduct and to act as whistleblowers when necessary.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Star Prize for the best qualifying candidate, awarded to Emmanuel Oluwaseyi, alongside other prizes recognising academic excellence.
The inductees then took the Oath of Allegiance, pledging to perform their duties honestly and faithfully under the ICAN Act and rules of professional conduct.
Yahaya acknowledged the contributions of key committees and officials, including Chief Chibuzor Noel Anyanechi, Chief Oye Akinsulire, and the Induction Sub-Committee, in organising the event.
Other dignitaries present included Sir Herbert Agbebiyi, Hajia Queensley Seghosime, Dr Etofolam Osuji, Chief DCS Alaribe, Mr Tajudeen Adewale Olayinka, and Registrar/Chief Executive Lanre Olasunkanmi.
Reminding the new members that ICAN is a founding member of the International Federation of Accountants and other regional professional bodies, Yahaya emphasised that they now belong to a global network of over five million accountants.
He concluded the ceremony with a quote from Winston Churchill: “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
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The event celebrated achievement, reinforced ethical standards, and highlighted ICAN’s continued role in producing competent accountants poised to support transparency and good governance across Nigeria’s corporate and public sectors.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
