The Nigerian Accountant 2012 October/December Edition

ConferenceMike Suarez in a handshake with Mrs. SeyiWilliams while Chief Herbert Agbebiyi watchesAccountant-General of the Federation, Mr. JonahOgunniyi Otunla, FCA. It was attended by 3,950participants comprising Chartered Accountantsand other professionals from all walks of life fromNigeria, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Benin Republic,Sierra Leone, South Africa, Gambia, UnitedKingdom and the United States of America.Declaring the conference open, the President,Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, noted the Institute’sstrategic contributions to the country’s capacitybuildingefforts. He expressed appreciationfor ICAN’s support in building capacity for thenation’s Federal Treasury Academy through atwining arrangement with the Chartered Instituteof Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) ofthe United Kingdom.He confirmed that Nigeria is facing enormous developmentchallenges imposed by limitations of human and natural resources,political, economic and corporate governance issues. He saidthat the situation is worsened by weak institutional arrangements,abandonment of development planning, inadequate performancebenchmarks for public officers and unwillingness of manystakeholders to think and act patriotically. He added that it is theaim of the government to re-institutionalise development planningand place greater premium on capital allocation in annual budgets.In his welcome address, the ICAN President, Mr. Doyin Owolabideclared that regrettably, Nigeria’s 52 year old history pointed toa yawning gap in institutional development as institutions of stateare remembered, not by their statutory mandate and quantum ofservice delivery but by the exploits of their transient leaders. Helamented that in the face of a string of weak institutions, the countryDoyin Owolabi (right) being presented the cup hewon after the jogging competition by Tayo PhilipsConference Director Sola Oyetayo, ICAN PresidentDoyin Owolabi in handshake with Soare VernonPAFA CEO, Vickson Ncube (left); PAFA ExecutiveSecretary, ICAN VP, Kabir Mohammed; President DoyinOwolabi; Past President, Major-General SebastianOwuama; and ICAN’s 2nd DVP, Otunba Femi Deruof economic development anddemocratic process that is consistent with good governance. Thetask of building such strong institutions must start today for thebenefit of tomorrow,” he added.Declaring the conference close, Gombe State governor, AlhajiIbrahim Dankwabo expressed appreciation to those who took timeout to attend the conference. He also commended the Institute forputting the conference in place, advising that those at the helms ofaffairs should endeavour to make use of the various suggestionsmade at the conference, for the benefit of the nation’s development.Apart from paper presentations, workshops and plenarysessions, there was a gala nite on Thursday during which veteranjuju musician, King Sunny Ade, treated the participants to his latesttunes. There was also an open raffle draw in which a memberand Chairman of Lokoja District & Society, Mr. Emmanuel Onoja(MB No: 016461) won a brand new Kia Cerato car. The raffleICAN President, Doyin Owolabi and Past PresidentOlutoyin Olakunri in a group photograph with members ofthe Society of Women Accountants in Nigeria (SWAN)still parades strong politicalleaders, saying such deficit is arecipe for anti-development. Hestated further that the actionsand inactions of institutions canaffect growth and developmentthrough a variety of waysincluding their effects oninvestments, functioning ofmarkets competition, socioeconomicpolicies, rule of law,security, business environment,etc.On the way forward, theICAN President declared thatthe realisation of the Nigeriandream is bound to the degreeof premium placed on thebuilding of strong and enduringinstitutions which can define,regulate and enforce complianceto acceptable practices for thecommon good. “The nationrequires strong institutionsthat will make developmentand regulatory environmentconducive to effective operationdraw was part of the packagesof the conference. Other prizeslike LCD television, gas cookers,laptops, fridges, were also won atvarious times in the course of theconference.There were also sportingactivities such as jogging andfootball as well as other activitiesincluding excursions, exhibitionsand District Societies competitionduring which the Society ofWomen Accountants of Nigeria(SWAN) emerged as the bestdressed, the largest contingentand the best performing group.THE NIGERIAN ACCOUNTANT 11October/December, 2012