Be technology-savvy, ANAN charges accounting students

The chairman of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Oyo State branch, Professor Oyelakin Awobode, has charged students in the Department of Financial and Management Studies of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, on the need to take advantage of digitisation by being technology-savvy in order to remain relevant even as professional accountants in the 21st century.

“In this present age, you need to develop yourself beyond being a professional accountant because very soon, computers will take over most of the duties of an accountant,” he noted.

Professor Awobode gave the charge on Wednesday last week during the 2021 International Accountants’ Day celebration, organised by the association which was held at the Assembly Hall of the Polytechnic.

Speaking further, he said “the world is changing and we need to change with it. If we must cope with the challenges brought by COVID-19 pandemic and adapt to the new normal, then we must increase our learning ability in block-chain technology, artificial intelligence, forensic and other technological innovations.”

While delivering a paper on the topic, ‘Career Path to Becoming a Professional Accountant’ at the event, Professor Awobode said the education and training of prospective accountants in Nigeria should reflect the economic, structural and ideological environment of the country.

He noted that becoming a successful accountant is not a product of being members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) or association with other foreign accounting bodies  but adhering strictly to all the qualities required of a sound professional.

He highlighted the three attributes that mark out true professionals as competence, discipline and integrity.

He admonished the students to hold the three attributes dear to their hearts while they mount the ladder of success in their career.

“Being a professional accountant is noble and rewarding if one would take the part of integrity, diligence, competence and not  compromise the ethics of the profession,” he said.

Representative of the rector, and dean, Faculty of Financial and Management Study, Dr Mojeed Kolawole Lawal, in his remarks said that the institution was glad to host the delegation from ANAN in commemoration of this year’s International Accountants’ Day.

He noted that the gesture had allowed the students to gain more knowledge about their course of study and understand that there is no difference between the two accounting professional bodies in Nigeria, ICAN and ANAN, but that the two different professional bodies are serving the same objectives.

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