UNIZIK Accountancy Department Conference spotlights Accounting, Governance and Innovation as Key Drivers of Africa’s future
The Department of Accountancy, Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, at the ASUU Secretariat, held its 7th International Conference (Hybrid) on June 17, 2026, with the theme, “Shaping Africa’s Future Through Accounting, Governance, Technology and Sustainable Business Management,”
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra State on Investment, emphasised the critical role of accounting in driving economic growth and sustainable development. He noted that accounting professionals promote financial intelligence and provide the transparency and accountability required for effective governance and economic stability.
According to him, the profession extends beyond the preparation of financial statements, as accountants play a vital role in shaping policies, strengthening institutions and supporting informed decision-making in both the public and private sectors. He urged practitioners and scholars to apply greater imagination to the profession, think beyond conventional responsibilities and explore innovative ways of contributing to national and continental development. He thereafter welcomed participants to the conference.
The Head of Department of Accountancy, Prof. Onyinye M. Eneh, expressed appreciation to participants, keynote speakers, paper presenters and guests for honouring the department’s invitation. She described the conference theme as timely and reflective of some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities confronting Africa today.
Prof. Eneh stated that sound accounting practices, good governance, technological innovation and sustainable business management remain essential pillars for Africa’s growth and competitiveness in the global economy. She noted that the conference provided valuable platforms for scholars, professionals, policymakers and industry leaders to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop practical solutions capable of addressing contemporary socio-economic challenges.
She further commended members of the department for their dedication and commitment to organising the conference and encouraged participants to take advantage of the knowledge-sharing opportunities provided by the gathering. She expressed optimism that the deliberations would inspire innovative thinking, responsible leadership and practical actions that would advance sustainable business practices and accountability across Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, described Accountancy as a discipline that is particularly dear to him and commended the Department of Accountancy for sustaining a conference that addresses critical issues affecting Africa’s development. He noted that the theme of the conference aligns with contemporary efforts to strengthen accountability, good governance, technological advancement and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
Prof. Anyaehie expressed confidence in the capacity of the department to continue producing graduates and research outputs that will contribute meaningfully to national development. He also disclosed that the university is considering the establishment of a Faculty of Accountancy, a move he said would further strengthen the discipline and enhance its contributions to the university and society. He further assured participants that the university management would look into facilitating University appointments for the keynote speaker and paper presenters in recognition of their expertise and contributions to the conference.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, stated that Africa stands at a critical point in its development journey and must leverage the interconnected strengths of accounting, governance, technology and sustainable business management to secure a prosperous future. He noted that while Africa is projected to account for a significant proportion of the world’s population in the coming decades, creating enormous opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation, trade and investment, demographic growth alone cannot guarantee economic prosperity.
Dr. Olowo stressed that history has consistently shown that nations achieve sustainable progress not merely because of their natural resources or population size, but because of the quality of their institutions, governance structures and development strategies. According to him, Africa’s future will be shaped by deliberate choices aimed at strengthening accountability, attracting the right investments, embracing technological innovation and implementing development models that create long-term value for citizens.
Describing accounting as a powerful driver of economic transformation, he argued that the profession should not be viewed merely as a technical discipline concerned with recording and reporting financial transactions. Rather, accounting provides the reliable information upon which investors, lenders, governments, regulators and citizens make critical decisions, making it one of the foundations of trust in modern economies. He maintained that every successful economy depends on credible information systems and strong reporting frameworks that inspire confidence and support sustainable development.
In his own paper presentation at the conference, titled “Governance as the Foundation for Africa’s Future: Building Institutions That Convert Growth into Development” Chief Osita Chidoka, former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development argued that Africa’s future will not be secured by population, resources, technology or growth projections alone, but by trusted institutions capable of converting potential into lived development.
Using his 2004 This Day article about the Okija shrine saga, he made the case that Ogwugwu Okija is a metaphor for the migration of trust away from the state. He asserted that governance is fundamentally the work of making public authority believable again.
Chidoka argued that just as accountancy builds confidence by making claims auditable, the state must build legitimacy by making its decisions, money, standards, and consequences visible, verifiable, and subject to scrutiny.
The central message was simple: trust is infrastructure; without it, growth remains statistics, but with it, institutions can turn opportunity into security, productivity, fairness and shared prosperity.
“The day we redirect to our own institutions the faith our people once reserved for the shrine is the day Africa converts its growth into development, and its potential into a life its citizens can feel. That is the call of Mekaria. To do more. To do better. To begin today. Osi ta di nma. Taa bụ gbo” Chidoka stated.
Other speakers included Major General Charles Ofoche (Rtd.), former Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau; and Prof. Suleiman A. S. Aduwa, Professor of Accounting and Finance, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities in recognition of their contributions to national development and professional excellence. Among the award recipients was the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie.
Other awardees included Hon. Izuchukwu Moses Okafor, Commissioner for Finance, Anambra State; Mr. Emeka Agbasi, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FERMA; Ambassador George Collins Onwuekwe, former Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Guangzhou, China; Chief Ifeanyichukwu Obiakor (Ezeomeasato); Hon. Uche Ifediora, Managing Director, Fun Surge and Suits Hotel; Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo (Onyendozi-Nwachinemelu); Chief Dr. Godwin Ifeanyichukwu Okafor (Okpala Anyanwuora I of Isuofia); Christian Okay Onwuogu (Ichie Ezedioramma); and Dr. Akpovona John-David Omonigho, Director of Finance and Accounts, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, among others.
Earlier in the conference, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Francis Obioha Nwankwo, while welcoming participants, thanked guests who attended physically and those who joined virtually from different parts of the world. He described the conference theme as both timely and relevant, considering the rapidly changing global business environment and the growing need for accountability, innovation and sustainable development