The leadership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Bayelsa State has reiterated its commitment to uphold the institute’s ideals of integrity and professionalism in accordance with the ICAN District Societies Bye Laws.
This was disclosed by the Yenagoa and District Society chairman, Mr Ebipuado Ombu while speaking to LEADERSHIP in Yenagoa, adding that the 2023/2024 executive committee whose major goal is “service to the state”, will focus on sustaining the legacy of past chairmen of ICAN in Bayelsa State.
Ombu further noted that the new administration will encourage ICAN members to utilise their wealth of experience and knowledge to partner with the state machineries, the federal agencies and NGOs to promote and foster education and professionalism to ensure the speedy socio-economic transformation of the Bayelsa State.
“To actualize this goal, this administration will specifically focus on some key areas which includes, to commence hostel building at the ICAN study centre, intensify efforts on the ATS ‘Catch them young project’ to produce more young chartered accountants, increase membership of the district, encourage members to be financially up to date, fulfil its corporate social responsibility and maintain a good cordial relationship with professional bodies for the development of the state.
“I know that the task is enormous and that it is not going to be easy but with the determination of this Exco, the support from members and the guidance of God Almighty, we shall together, as one indivisible family, move our district to greater heights”, he stated.
Also, the chairperson of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) Yenagoa chapter, Dr Pauline Ebiye Sawyer in an interview, said that SWAN has initiated laudable programmesin the state aimed at empowering women in the accountancy profession.
She noted that a lot of the students, particularly the girls in many secondary schools both in Yenagoa and other nearby communities, have been reached out to assure them that life can be better if they wish to develop worthwhile careers in accounting and related fields through the Accounting Technician Scheme (ATS) programme.
She said, “ATS is for students that have just graduated from the secondary school, those that have written their WAEC and have not gotten admission into the university.
“They can enroll in the programme, it has about three levels. If you are able to pass through the three levels, they will be qualified to write the professional programme and by the time they qualify through the professional programme, they will be chartered accountants before they even get admission into the university.”