ICAN Ibadan inaugurates new chairman

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ibadan and District Society, has inaugurated Alhaji Babatunde Kilani as its 24th Chairman.

In his acceptance speech at the investiture ceremony and inauguration of the 2024/2025 executive committee on Wednesday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Kilani pledged to consolidate the achievements of the past leadership of the body.

He noted that in addition to the five cardinal points of the past leadership, which include extensive membership drive, members’ inclusiveness, welfare and empowerment, advocacy programmes and business, catch-them-young initiatives, and infrastructural development, his leadership will complement them with human capacity development and extensive welfare of members.

Kilani added that under his leadership, the Ibadan District and Society of ICAN will form more district societies and called for support from members.

He said: “I am aware of the daunting responsibilities that lie ahead of us for the administrative year. However, with your support and prayers, nothing is insurmountable. We are not unmindful of the ‘perceived’ animosity within our midst due to ideological differences. We have accepted to serve and promise to be a unifying force for peace, progress, and unity.

“We shall reopen the issue of the formation of more district societies in furtherance of the steps taken by the 21st Chairman, Mr. Abiodun Adedeji. This, we believe, will bring about the peaceful actualization of the calls from some of our members in recent times for having more district societies in Ibadanland.

“We shall work on any noticeable professional knowledge gap among our members and make sure that the technical and training committees are constituted with people who have the passion to impart knowledge.

“As I stand before you, accepting to serve you in this capacity as the Chairman for the year 2024/2025, I solicit your unflinching support, cooperation, and loyalty in all ramifications; financial and otherwise.”

In his keynote address, the 60th President of ICAN, Chief Davidson Alaribe, appreciated the outgoing executive members and charged the new executives on membership drive, establishment of more district societies, and adopting strategies to get young people into the accounting profession.

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Chairman of the occasion and a past president of ICAN, Titus Soetan, in his address, charged members of the body on the need to move with the trend by adopting technology and integrating it into their operations.

Soetan noted that with such technologies as Artificial Intelligence (AI), members can optimize operations, personalize and improve customer experience, and dedicate more time to other responsibilities.

In her valedictory speech, the immediate past chairman of ICAN, Ibadan and District Society, Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Babajide, highlighted the achievements of her leadership, especially as enunciated in the five cardinal pillars of the administration.

Babajide said: “The district witnessed tremendous growth and successes within the year to consolidate the achievements of past years, having tagged the administration earlier as the year of consolidation.

“As the first person to chair SWAN Ibadan and also chair ICAN Ibadan, I return all glory to God Almighty. More women are positioned to lead.”