…as Yahaya becomes 61st president

By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN yesterday, said it is embarking on a bold and forward-looking journey to fully digitise its examination process.

Meanwhile, the Institute has sworn in Haruna Yahaya, as its 61st President at an investiture ceremony held at the ICAN Head Office in Lagos.

The new President has outlined 10 areas of priorities for the Presidential Year which themed: “ICAN @ 60 — Powering a New Era of Integrity and Innovation”.

In his acceptance speech, Yahaya said: During this Presidential Year, we are embarking on a bold and forward-looking journey to fully digitise the ICAN examination process. This transformation will be executed in carefully designed phases, beginning from the November 2025 Diet.

“It will encompass a robust conceptual design, comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation, stakeholder engagement, and a pilot phase—all culminating in the deployment of a secure, proctored online examination platform that aligns with global best practices.

“Beyond improving operational efficiency and scalability, this transformation will elevate the candidate’s experience—providing them with a modern, responsive, and inclusive examination environment that mirrors the 21st-century workplace.”

Additionally, he said that in the presidential year, the Institute would further strengthen its effort as a Pillar for National Regulation and Anti-Corruption.

“Trust is the most valuable currency in any economy – and ICAN must be its custodian. To become a strong pillar for regulators, we will leverage our technical expertise, nationwide presence, and the credibility of our membership to actively support Nigeria’s journey toward the fight against corruption, transparency, good governance, and institutional accountability.

“This year, we shall strengthen ICAN’s role as a trusted ally to regulatory bodies, not merely as a watchdog, but as a collaborative partner in raising standards across both public and private sectors. Our strategy includes: Advocating for stronger professional standards in audit, assurance, and financial reporting; among others.”