The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has outlined a bold vision for aligning Nigeria’s ongoing reforms with sustainable national development as it prepares to host over 13,000 delegates at its 55th Annual Accountants’ Conference (AAC) in Abuja.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has outlined a bold vision for aligning Nigeria’s ongoing reforms with sustainable national development as it prepares to host over 13,000 delegates at its 55th Annual Accountants’ Conference (AAC) in Abuja.
Speaking at a pre-conference media briefing on Monday, ICAN President Mallam Haruna Yahaya, mni, FCA, said the theme of this year’s event, “Building Resilience: Aligning Reforms for Nigeria’s Development”, underscores the profession’s responsibility to drive transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in the nation’s reform journey.
“This is not just a meeting of accountants; it is a gathering of reformers. Our goal is to ensure that the ongoing fiscal, monetary, and governance reforms truly work for the people they are meant to serve,” Yahaya declared.
He revealed that the 2025 AAC, holding from October 6 to 10, will feature four high-impact plenary sessions and three technical workshops addressing issues such as consequence management, sustainability reporting, and leadership in a changing economic landscape.
According to him, there will also be interactive engagements, including a fireside session on women in accounting, a Members’ Connect Forum, and a strategic meeting between the President of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and accounting students, aimed at bridging global perspectives with local practice.
Yahaya emphasized that the conference will explore practical ways to deepen Nigeria’s resilience through coherent reforms across fiscal, governance, and social sectors.
“Our profession stands at the intersection of trust and transformation,” he said. “The credibility of our nation’s financial systems depends on the character of its accountants.”
The ICAN President highlighted several key commitments the Institute will reaffirm during the conference, including:
”Supporting government reforms through data-driven policy advocacy;
”Strengthening public finance management systems for transparency;
”Deepening sustainability and ESG reporting capacity;
”Empowering the next generation of accountants through education, innovation, and mentorship.”
Yahaya disclosed that the week-long conference will also feature wellness activities, exhibitions, and networking events, including the District Societies Parade, President’s Party, and Gala Nite, celebrating unity and excellence within the profession.
Addressing recent public discussions on examination conduct, Yahaya reaffirmed that the integrity of ICAN’s examinations remains intact, noting that the Institute’s internal systems for verification and monitoring continue to safeguard fairness and credibility across all examination centres.
He assured that ICAN’s vigilance in maintaining standards demonstrates its institutional strength and commitment to accountability.
Yahaya concluded by inviting delegates and the public to engage fully in the conference conversations, stressing that measurable reform outcomes remain the Institute’s guiding philosophy.
“In ICAN, we say: If it matters, measure it. If we measure it, publish it. And if we publish it, we can fix it. That is what this conference is about —aligning reforms for real results,” he stated.
The 55th ICAN Annual Accountants’ Conference will take place across multiple venues in Abuja, including the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (BAT ICC) and the Congress Hall of the Los Angeles Event Centre, from October 6 to 10, 2025.
ICAN Sets Agenda for National Reforms, Transparency at 55th Accountants’ Conference
