Chartered Accountants are Strategically Relevant for a Country’s Sustainable Development – ICAN President

ICAN President Mazi Nnamdi Okwadigbo, FCA has urged professional accountants to become deeply involved in governance to help drive economic development. Speaking at the just-concluded ICAN Canada International Conference at Edmonton, Canada, Mazi Okwuadigbo said chartered accountants were strategically relevant to the country’s march to sustainable development because of their professional skills and competences. 

“For the social and economic narratives of any country to improve, chartered accountants must be deeply involved in governance especially as trusted advisers and administrators”, he said. 

Reflecting on the theme of the conference, Application of Emerging Technologies Towards Enhancing the Role of Accountants, the ICAN president recognized massive, fast-paced changes that professionals across all fields constantly face as key challenge that requires the development of catching up strategies. 

He warned that “chartered accountants are not immune from the speed and spate of the changing business dynamics”, but pointed out that the situation presented “professionals with immense opportunities for business expansion”. While recognizing that the disruptions caused by technology in the last few decades have been profound, he described the experience as “a tip of the iceberg”. 

“There are exciting statistics indicating that the business world may, at the moment, be scratching the surface with regard to the potentials of technology in redefining existing business models, “he said. Mazi Okwuadigbo noted that technologies are “not just introducing new dimensions in the way clients’ needs are met but they have significant impact on the nature and types of job that would be available to accountants.”