ICAN Celebrates International Accounting Day 2025 at YABATECH, Lagos

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) joined millions of accounting professionals worldwide in commemorating International Accounting Day 2025, with the South-West regional celebration hosted by Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos. The event convened ICAN members, students, and academics, spotlighting accountants’ pivotal contributions to accountability, transparency, and governance across public and private sectors.

Chief DCS Alaribe, ICAN’s immediate past president, representing current ICAN President Mallam Haruna Yahaya, paid tribute to over five million accountants globally. He hailed them as “unsung heroes securing the financial stability of businesses, governments, and communities.” Alaribe traced the profession’s origin to Luca Pacioli’s 1494 publication on double-entry bookkeeping, which laid the bedrock of modern financial management. Mallam Yahaya emphasized that even before digital advancements, accountants shaped progress with “discipline, accuracy, and integrity.” He praised ICAN’s 67,000-plus members for sustaining trust and confidence in Nigeria’s economy and institutions, and lauded international accounting bodies for advancing global governance standards. Yahaya’s motto for the profession is: “When diligence meets discipline, greatness is inevitable.”

YABATECH’s Dean of Management and Business Studies, Dr. Fadipe Adeniyi Olubunmi, FCA, expressed pride that the college was chosen as the prestigious venue. He highlighted that 80 percent of the Accountancy Department’s lecturers are ICAN fellows, ensuring a curriculum aligned with global best practices and digital transformations in accounting. Two current students have already qualified as ICAN members, underscoring the institution’s academic rigor. Dr. Fadipe commended Rector Dr. Adedotun Ibrahim Abdul for fostering stronger academia-industry connections through a Linkage Directorate that bridges theory and practice. YABATECH recently earned second place in a regional accounting competition held by the University of Lagos, securing a N150,000 prize as the sole polytechnic among university contenders, illustrating the college’s rising global reputation.

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Dr. Abdul encouraged students to seize control over their future, underscoring their role as the backbone of Nigeria’s business success and the indispensable nature of accountants in ensuring accountability wherever they operate. He urged perseverance, reminding students failure is temporary and success comes through effort. Dr. Abdul reaffirmed YABATECH’s commitment to uphold professionalism and ethics and expressed gratitude to ICAN for entrusting the institution with hosting the celebration.

This prestigious event not only celebrated the legacy and global significance of accounting but also showcased YABATECH as a premier incubator of Nigeria’s next generation of accounting professionals, reflecting ICAN’s mission to develop ethics-driven, innovative leaders for national and international financial stewardship.