ICAN moves to close North, South accounting profession gap

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The Kano/Jigawa District of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has hinted that it would train future accounting professionals in the North to bridge the professional gap between it and the Southern part of the country.

It is, therefore, set to lunch its “Catch Them Young” programme in secondary schools, colleges and polytechnics in the district.

Speaking at its 2017/2018 investiture, Chairman of the district, Ado Mohammed Abubakar, stressed that the professional body was ready to close the long existing gap of chartered accountants between the North and South.

He said the programme, tagged: Accounting Technician Skills of West Africa, which is part of ICAN’s outline, would be mainstreamed to produce middle level manpower in the accounting professionals in the North.

Ado, who argued that the low number of chartered accountants from the North, the discouraging interest of potential professionals and lack of awareness, restated willingness to change the narrative.

“We don’t have the knowledge and awareness of the basic rudiments of ICAN. The awareness in the North is very low. That is why we would concentrate and prioritise the building passion and interest of the young people from the secondary school level.

“Here, our people mostly see ICAN examination as difficult and perhaps the exclusive of candidates from the South. But we are ready to motivate, encourage and persuade them to start the programme at young age.

“We want to encourage them that if we from the North and from Kano can do it in two sittings without failing any papers, they also can do it even better,” Ado explained.

He said the Accounting Technician Skill of West Africa “would enable young minds to start the foundation papers and become chartered even without going through the four walls of the university. And with that certificate, they can work anywhere as accounting technician across West African countries”.

Ado also urged students still waiting for admission into higher institutions to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the special skill to commence training as accountants.

Kano State Commissioner for Finance and fellow of ICAN, Prof. Kabir Isa Dandago, pledged government’s readiness to employ chartered accountants into the state civil service to improve the state’s financial proficiency.

He assured of government’s commitment to sustain its partnership with ICAN in income generation and audit.