A prominent Nigerian banking executive has called on the country’s leading accountancy body to urgently address the digital skills gap within the profession.
Ada Chukwudozie, the chairman of Keystone Bank, made the appeal while speaking at an induction ceremony for new members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Lagos on Wednesday. More than 1,800 new accountants were welcomed into the institute.
Ms Chukwudozie stressed that proficiency in areas such as data analytics, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and cloud-based accounting platforms is no longer a future concept but a “present-day necessity.”
Highlighting the challenge, she noted that as of 2024, fewer than 12% of accountants in Nigeria were trained in blockchain and auditing. “This gap must close if we are to remain globally competitive,” she stated.
To address this, Ms Chukwudozie proposed that ICAN should champion a national digital competency framework for accountants, working in collaboration with Nigeria’s IT development agency (NITDA) and the Ministry of Communications. She emphasised the need for continuous professional development to keep pace with evolving technology and regulations.
“Digital literacy must become a core competency embedded in the ICAN curriculum and continuous professional development programmes across Nigeria,” Ms Chukwudozie urged, adding that today’s accountants must master tools like QuickBooks, SAP, and blockchain auditing software.
Drawing on her experience, she spoke of the “transformative power of accountancy” in strengthening corporate governance and building resilient economies, noting the crucial role of skilled chartered accountants at Keystone Bank.
ICAN’s President, Davidson Alaribe, also addressed the new inductees, urging them to see their qualification as the “first step in their life-long learning process” and to uphold the highest levels of accuracy and integrity.
Dr Etofolam Osuji, an ICAN official, further underscored the importance of adapting to emerging trends, telling the new members that cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics are “an integral part of your toolkit as a modern chartered accountant.”
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