By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mallam Haruna Yahaya, has charged members of the association to uphold transparency and actively participate in both state and national activities to fully enjoy the benefits of their membership.
Yahaya gave the charge on Saturday in Abakaliki during the investiture ceremony of Mr. Emmanuel Chimezezie Egwu as the 11th Chairman of the ICAN Abakaliki and District Society. He was represented by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Prof. Leonard Chukwuma Uguru.
Commending the district for conducting a peaceful election that ushered in the new leadership, Yahaya said the ICAN national body was proud of the Abakaliki district’s orderly transition.
“Mr President wants you to be accountable and transparent in your activities, and equally be fully participating in the body’s programs to ensure full benefit as a member,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Sunny Ituma, commended the national president for honoring the event and praised the ICAN members in the state for its unity and decorum during the electoral process.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the new chairman to deliver results. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Egwu will perform well in office,” he added.
Dr. Kingsley Sunday Oyekezie, Chairman of the Investiture Planning Committee, described the event as evidence that the district had matured professionally. He stated that with the quality of the executive committee, the future leadership of the district was well-positioned for stability and growth. He urged the new executives to prioritize innovation, digital transformation, ethics, and member welfare.
Delivering a keynote lecture titled “Entrepreneurship and the Accountant”, Prof. Wilberforce Oti, a Professor of Analytical and Industrial Chemistry in Ebonyi State University, encouraged ICAN members to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, urging them to transform societal challenges into opportunities for impact and economic relevance.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Egwu described his new role as a solemn responsibility and pledged to uphold the values of integrity and excellence.
“This is not just a personal milestone but a solemn responsibility. I accept this role with gratitude, humility, a strong sense of duty, and an unwavering commitment to the values that define this noble professional body,” he stated.
Egwu acknowledged the legacy of his predecessors and pledged to deepen member engagement, enhance the profession’s relevance, and contribute to national development.
He emphasized priorities such as professional excellence, ethics, innovation, member inclusion, and the actualization of a permanent secretariat for the district.
The event drew notable stakeholders from the accounting profession and the broader business community, highlighting ICAN Abakaliki District’s growing influence in Ebonyi State and beyond.
