President Bola Tinubu has charged Accountants to use their profession to promote transparency and accountability in the country. He also called for effective collaboration between government, industries, and professional bodies to foster an environment that supports transparency, combats corruption, and spurs inclusive growth.
The President made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the 55th Annual Accountants Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
The President, who was represented by the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Shamsedeen Ogunjimi, said this year's conference theme, "Building Resilience: Aligning Reforms for Nigeria's Development," is both necessary and timely.
He said that as a nation, the country continually finds itself navigating a period of profound domestic and global disruptions. "It is, therefore, in moments such as these that resilience must be viewed as a strategic necessity, not just a concept," he said,
adding that the theme reaffirms the country's shared responsibility and collective resolve to strengthen Nigeria's economic foundations and governance framework.
The President said resilience demands sustainable practices that entail thinking beyond immediate gains.
According to him, "It is generally considered to be the ability of individuals, institutions, and nations to absorb shocks, adapt to challenges, and emerge stronger.
"As we reflect on the theme of this conference, I urge every Nigerian, particularly the accounting fraternity, to adopt the principles of sustainability, transparency, and prudence. You are the custodians of this trust. You are the architects of the systems and the guardians of the figures that either build or erode economic resilience." He said their work is foundational to making Nigeria a place where resilience is not accidental but engineered.
He said the 55th annual conference presents an opportunity for ICAN members to recommit themselves to professionalism, excellence, innovation, and leadership in accounting, governance, and sustainability. He said ICAN is more than a professional body; "it is one of the pillars of Nigeria's socio-economic development, with a deep history ingrained in our country's developmental trajectory."
He tasked the conference to deliver actionable insights into how the accounting profession can leverage emerging technologies, adapt to regulatory environments, and promote best practices aligning with national development priorities.
He restated his administration's commitment to building institutions that work, driving reforms that matter, and fostering inclusive and sustainable development.
"We are aligning reforms for Nigeria's development by embarking on reforms aimed at transforming our economy and improving the lives of Nigerians through economic diversification, human capital development, social protection, infrastructural development, and private sector growth.
"To align these reforms with our development goals, we must foster a culture of innovation by encouraging entrepreneurship, research and development, promoting transparency and accountability, ensuring prudent management of public finances and resources, enhancing security and stability, and ensuring a safe and secure environment for citizens and businesses," the President said.
He said that Accountants are the frontline agents in embedding sustainability into the fabric of Nigeria's economic landscape and adopting sustainable accounting practices as regulatory compliance and a strategic imperative that will drive public and corporate organisations to entrench fiscal discipline and accountability in managing financial resources.
He charged ICAN members to continue to lead in integrating best practices towards positioning Nigeria at the forefront of sustainable economic management.
He said Nigeria's development agenda will only succeed when the public and private sectors uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency. "Accountants contribute to this through their role in financial oversight, compliance enforcement, and policy advisory services, ensuring that every naira is accounted for and every public financial management process withstands the scrutiny of accountability.
"A transparent and accountable governance architecture is crucial for reducing poverty, expanding economic opportunities, and promoting social justice."
He promised that his administration, through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, was committed to supporting the institute.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of ICAN, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, said the conference is not just another gathering, but a gathering to deepen Nigeria's roots so that it can withstand the winds of reform, inflation, and uncertainty with clarity, courage, and care.
He said that for 60 years, ICAN has helped shape Nigeria's economic story - building standards, strengthening institutions, and mentoring generations.
According to him, "Our conferences have provided a forum where ideas became policies and recommendations became reforms - impacting governance across Nigeria and informing meaningful debates beyond the shores of this nation."
He said this year's theme - "Building Resilience - Aligning Reforms for Nigeria's Development" - speaks to an urgent national assignment. "As Africa's largest economy and most populous nation, with a population of about 240 million, Nigeria will undergo rapid demographic and socio-economic change over the next three decades. Yet demographics are not destiny. Without stronger institutions and coherent execution, potential does not become progress.
"This week, we will take a hard look at the structures and disincentives that hold Nigeria back - and how to unfasten them and make Nigeria great again," he said.
"If we match courage with cushioning, discipline with data, and reform with results, we will bend this moment into a J-curve - here at home, across Africa, and into the global economy."