ICAN Celebrates International Accounting Day, Harps on Integrity and Digital Skills for Accountants

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has joined millions of accounting professionals worldwide to commemorate International Accounting Day 2025, using the occasion to celebrate the crucial role accountants play in fostering accountability, transparency, and good governance.

Although International Accounting Day is celebrated globally on November 10th the anniversary of Luca Pacioli’s 1494 seminal work on double-entry bookkeeping the South-West regional celebration of ICAN was held today, Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos.

Delivering remarks on behalf of ICAN President Mallam Haruna Yahaya, the immediate past president of the Institute, Chief DCS Alaribe, paid glowing tribute to accounting professionals. He described them as the “unsung heroes behind the financial stability of businesses, governments, and communities.”

Integrity Amidst Innovation

The President reflected on the origins of the noble profession, noting that “Long before the age of artificial intelligence and analytics, the accountant’s pen was already shaping the course of human progress through discipline, accuracy, and integrity.”

He commended ICAN’s more than 67,000 members for their professionalism and commitment to excellence, stressing that their collective integrity continues to maintain confidence in Nigeria’s economy and public institutions. Mallam Yahaya urged members and students to ensure they combine their core ethical values with technological proficiency to remain relevant in the rapidly changing global financial landscape.

The Dean of the School of Management and Business Studies and Council Member of YABATECH, Dr. Fadipe Adeniyi Olubunmi, FCA, expressed joy that the college was selected to host the 2025 celebration, affirming that about 80 per cent of the lecturers in the Accountancy Department are ICAN fellows, a commitment that ensures the curriculum meets the highest global standards.

The event concluded with a renewed call to action for the next generation of accountants to embrace innovation while reinforcing their foundational values.