You’ve Enhanced Corporate Integrity, Left Positive Footprints in Bonny – LG Chairman Lauds ICAN as Institute Gets New Chairman

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has been praised for deepening corporate integrity by entrenching accountability and record keeping across the corporate world and also left positive footprints in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Dame Anengi Dagogo-Wilcox gave this commendation during the inauguration of the 2

Represented by her Chief of Staff, Mr. Austin Pepple, the Bonny LGA Chief Executive used the occasion to express her administration’s readiness to partner with ICAN in upscaling the professionalism amongst Accountancy practitioners and encouraging the next generation to grow in the profession.

She gave thumbs up to the initiators of the ICAN Bonny Kingdom and District Society, noting that the Institute has left a positive footprint in Bonny within a short period of time through its regulatory and capacity building functions, pointing out that its secondary schools outreach was already inspiring the younger generation’s interest in not just the profession but in accuracy of conduct and integrity in dealings.

Mathew Waribo-Pepple, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a former banker with extensive experiences in Credit Risk Management, Cost Control and Due Diligence in the Financial Services sector, was inaugurated and decorated as the 2nd Chairman of ICAN Bonny Kingdom and District Society by the 58th President of ICAN, Mallam Tijjani Musa Isa, FCA.

Other members of the newly inaugurated executive include Dr. Victor Jumbo, FCA, Vice Chairman; Mr. Vincent Nwakanma, FCA, General Secretary; Mr. Emmanuel Njoku, ACA, Assistant General Secretary; Mrs. Olayemi Adesanya, FCA, Financial Secretary; Mr. Chidozie Iroanya, ACA, Technical Secretary; Mr. Ayodeji Omitogun, FCA, Treasurer; Mr. Chuka Atuchukwu, ACA, Social/Welfare Secretary; Dr. William Nwaoha, ACA, Membership Secretary; Rev. Itoruowusi Green, FCA, Ex-Officio 1; Amaopusenibo Hugh Halliday, FCA, Ex-Officio 2; Mrs. Adaobu Amini-Philips, FCA, Ex-Officio 3-SWAN; and Dr. Samuel Ekong, FCA, Ex-Officio 4.

In his keynote address, the 58th President of ICAN, Mallam Tijjani Musa Isa, FCA, who was represented by Chief Ezekiel Anagha, FCA, who is also the Coordinator of the ICAN BKDS, which is also known as Royal District, congratulated the incoming Chairman and other members of his executive, while commending the outgoing Chairman, Dr Samuel Ekong and his executive for their demonstrated dedication, strong leadership and achievements to the Institute.  

He called on members of ICAN Bonny Kingdom and District Society to accord the next leadership team the needed cooperation and support for them to discharge their duties, urging Accountants both in Nigeria and the Diaspora to entrench the values of ICAN wherever they are, calling on the Matthew Pepple led incoming executive to provide leadership through service.    

The newly inaugurated Chairman of ICAN BKDS, Mr. Matthew Waribo Pepple, FCA, thanked the leadership and members of ICAN, especially, those of his district for the confidence reposed in him to serve, announcing that he would sustain the ongoing initiatives of the previous executive which include partnerships, trainings, scholarships and the Catch-Them-Young programmes.

In his valedictory speech, the pioneer and immediate past Chairman (IPC) of the ICAN Bonny Kingdom and District Society, Dr Samuel Ekong commended his executive for their performance despite not having held executive positions in ICAN prior to their appointment, noting that he and his team “learnt on the job, leveraged on the expertise of our patrons and at the end, we excelled magnificently”.

He enumerated the achievements of his executive, which include Catch-Them-Young Programme, which reached out to over 900 students in five secondary schools, so far, in Bonny Island; setting up a temporary but fully furnished office for ICAN in Bonny with the support of the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, which he said has entrenched the profession in the area; attendance of the 2021 Annual ICAN Conference in Abuja, where the district participated in the District Societies competition and emerged 3rd overall best performing district.

Other achievements listed by the outgone Chairman include deployment of technology, which he said helped the district under his leadership to successfully hold Executive and General meetings virtually with full participation of members; partnership with the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, wherein it was working in concert with the Management secure accreditation for Accountancy programmes, which is expected to serve as catalyst to drive up student enrolment and professional certification for students in the institution; and ATS Training and Scholarships, which was being vigorously pursued with ICAN’s national leadership.

Earlier in his Welcome Address, Chairman, Investiture Planning Committee, Dr. Victor Jumbo, FCA said the annual activity of transitioning from one chairmanship to another, which was in consonance with ICAN’s byelaws governing the activities of district societies, “creates the opportunity to bring on board, new ideas and vigor to enhance the practice and sustenance of the Accountancy Profession”.

Dignitaries at the event included the Leader, Bonny Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Larry Ibaningo; Councillor representing Ward 6, Hon. Enefaa Allaputa; Chief and Head of the Fubara Manilla Pepple Chief House of Bonny Kingdom, Se-Alabo Waripanye Valentine Pepple; Director General, Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, FCA; and acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, Mrs. Ibifiri Pollyn, who was represented by her Special Assistant, Mrs. Harriet Jamaica.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of an award plaque to the 58

Earlier in the day the ICAN leaders and members were at the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny, where they had a Thanksgiving Service to mark the first anniversary of the ICAN Bonny Kingdom and District Society.