ICAN Conference: Institute Lauds Supportive Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, Cabinet Members

• Charges Parents on Proper Upbringing to Tackle Financial Crimes.

By Babatunde Kaka

The 56th President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, Mrs Dame Onome Adewuyi, has expressed gratitude to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and other supportive Cabinet members.

Onome said the Lagos state government was instrumental to the successful hosting of the recently concluded ICAN Conference.

Onome made this known when she delivered in her keynote address at the Investiture ( of Olufemi Charles Keshinro (FCA), as the Pioneer Chairman ) and Inauguration of Epe District & Society over the weekend at Jubilee Chalets, Epe.

She described the unflinching support of the Lagos State Government opened doors for the Institute while soliciting assistance across other States.

” I may not have this opportunity again to say thank you to these great people, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, he’s not here but I want to thank him. I want to thank the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo, the Accountant General of Lagos State, Dr Muritala Abiodun.

“I want to thank my sister, the Auditor General, Mrs Helen Deile and I also want to thank Mr Hakeem Shittu. These great people in conjunction with two Council Members with me, Alhaja Titi Akinbayo and Dr Awobutu rallied around me and gave huge financial support to run the just concluded conference”, she stated.

She revealed that the support gotten from the Lagos State Government became a marketing strategy for the Institute which worked magic in their resolve to get similar support from other States in the country. Like Oliver Twist, she pleaded for more support towards the institute as another conference draws nearer.

” Please don’t close your door on us because this is your institute and our institute”, she said.

She also said she was optimistic that the new Epe District would become a pacesetter and trailblazer for the other District Societies of ICAN.

She also averred that the inauguration was coming on the heels of a critical junction in global history which has provided members with the window of opportunity to build a resilient economy for Nigeria.
She however admonished newly inaugurated members to be united not only to realize ICAN lofty objectives but to also surpass them.

Speaking in an interview with Ekohotblog, Mrs Dame Onome averred that the menace of Financial Crimes in both Public and Private sectors of the economy in the country was not only the responsibility of ICAN and Accountants but also proper parenting which emanates from the smallest unit of the society, the family. She averred that is up to the task in nabbing erring members through stiffer sanctions.

” In terms of crime, we are all collectively responsible and accountable. The fact that we are ICAN does not give us the sole responsibility to make sure crime doesn’t happen in the country. So, everybody has a role to play, and I always counsel people that society is determined by the way a family is raised, everybody sitting here comes from a unit family, we have mothers and fathers; if we get it right from the family unit, then the community and the society will be right.

“But if you don’t teach your child the right things to do, when they grow up, they will not do the right thing. Let us go back to the units and let us raise children that will do the right thing even without our being there, then the whole community will be at peace.

She further hinted that ICAN is a regimented institute run with policies and principles, stating that the institute has a tribunal equivalent to the High Court. Erring members, she said, are sent to an investigative panel and when found wanting, the culprit is sent to the tribunal from where delisting, withdrawal of certificate will be activated. These guiding principles she said, has assisted immensely in shaping members.