Accountants in Plateau State have reaffirmed their commitment to integrity, transparency, and professional ethics as the bedrock of national development during the 2025 International Accounting Day celebration in Jos.
The event, jointly organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), and the Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), featured a health walk and novelty football matches aimed at promoting unity and well-being among finance professionals.
Speaking to journalists at the event, ICAN Chairman, Mr Pam Musa Chung, said the International Accounting Day was a time to celebrate the accounting profession and honour the sacrifices of those who laid its foundation. He noted that the day served as a reminder of the essential role accountants play in building transparent and accountable societies.
He explained that the event was not only about celebration but also about wellness, highlighting the importance of balance between work and physical well-being.
“As accountants, we are generally very busy people, but today we have chosen to step away from our calculators, computers, and ledgers to take part in something different — to promote health and wellness among our members, because health is wealth,” Chung said.
Highlighting the global significance of the celebration, he said accountants across the world were united by a shared principle of accuracy and integrity, adding that these virtues remain the cornerstone of professional credibility and public trust.
In his remarks, ANAN Chairman, Andy Udah, commended the collaboration among the professional bodies, saying such unity reflected the collective responsibility of accountants to drive accountability and good governance. He urged practitioners to continually update their knowledge through innovation and digital transformation, stressing that the profession must evolve with technology to stay relevant in Nigeria’s changing economy.
Also speaking, CIFCFIN Chairman, Mr. Tony Garba, described the 2025 edition as “epic,” being the first time all major accounting bodies in Nigeria came together under one banner to celebrate. Garba emphasized that integrity and ethics must remain the bedrock of the profession, particularly in combating financial crimes. He also encouraged young accountants to embrace forensic accounting as a critical field for the future.
“You cannot claim to be fighting fraud or corruption if you are not, first of all, an embodiment of integrity. Accountants should begin to speak with one voice as they develop their plans and policies aimed at addressing the menace of fraud and corruption in both the private and public sectors of Nigeria’s economy,” he said.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, we now have a professional body that is empowered by law to attract all forensic professionals and certified fraud investigators. CIFCFIN is currently the only body at the forefront of combating financial crimes and promoting forensic accountability in the country,” he added.
The Executive Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Jim Pam Wayas, commended the unity demonstrated by the professional bodies and described the celebration as a reflection of the indispensable role accountants play in every sector of the economy.
Wayas noted that government operations rely heavily on accounting principles for fiscal discipline.
“Government cannot function without applying the twin concepts of debit and credit,” he said.
“Before you are an ICAN member or belong to any professional body, you are first and foremost an accountant. Very few professions exist where practitioners are referred to as doctors of numbers. So, I tell people — if you want to become a doctor of numbers, come to accounting.”
He added that the health walk was not just an exercise in fitness but also a public demonstration of the profession’s visibility and relevance.
The 2025 International Accounting Day celebration formed part of a global observance recognizing the contributions of accountants to good governance, financial stability, and economic growth.
