By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), on Tuesday called on its members to rise to the occasion to be everything they can, saying that accounting now is beyond debit and credit.
The President and Chairman of Council, ANAN, Reverend Canon Ben Isisioma, made the call at the 5th Session of 2021 Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme of the association, held at the Yar’adua Hall in Kaduna.
He said at the end of the two-day programme, they inculcated in their members, skills that will last a life time.
“The world is now in the threshold of the fourth industrial revolution, we had the first, second and third industrial revolution and now in the fourth,” he said.
He explained that the event is aimed at training its member to be on the economic map of the nation by re-engineering the accountant.
According to him, “accounting is the life blood of business. We are putting ideas together to make the end a memorable one. We intend to achieve more skilled and equipped and qualified members,” he said.
He said the era of COVID-19 offers two options which is danger and opportunity.
He said the theme for the event is “Re-Engineering the Accounting Profession in the Post COVID-19 Era”.
In her opening remarks at the event, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, described the gathering as the only way professionals will continue to learn and develop including ensuring that knowledge, skills and competence are all in tandem with current realities.
She said the theme of the event, “Re-Engineering the Accounting Profession in the Post COVID-19 Era” is apt, because proper and efficient functioning of institutions relies on the key and critical roles accountants continue to play in ensuring growth of both private enterprises and government business towards contributing to national development.
“Again, the theme depicts the pride of place technology, has come to occupy in all facets of human endeavor especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
While calling on ANAN members to be in tandem with global trends and remain relevant and competitive in the era, through acquisition of new skills, which she said has become expedient.
According to her, work is increasingly becoming more remote and digitalized.
“The Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme is crucial for retooling, rebranding and re-equipping accountants to work smarter in this new and emerging world,” she said.
