The Accountants National Association of Nigeria (ANAN) has urged its members not to feel inferior to anyone with different professional qualifications.
President, Prof. Chuka Osisioma, gave the charge at the end of the association’s first session of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Program (MCPD), where 421 new members were inducted, in Abuja.
With the theme: “Understanding Financial Disclosure on Sustainability,” the program highlights the responsibility of accountants to implement a transparent financial disclosure system, especially for filing tax returns.
For decades, there has been a cold war between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and ANAN which is the best professional body for accounting graduates and related courses.
Both bodies have also been fighting for excellence and recognition from governments, corporate bodies and professional accountants.
But speaking to the inductees, Osisioma stated: “ANAN has reached a point where international bodies have started to seek our cooperation. The world recognizes us and knows that we have something to offer. Our founding fathers have created something on the ground and you will inherit it.
“Many people act as if ANAN is inferior. They hide it. They do not want people to know that they belong to ANAN until they are assessed and told that they need a professional affiliation. You have no reason to be inferior. You have a degree and one of the most professional qualifications good there.
While warning members not to engage in unethical behavior, the ANAN president enjoined the inductees to associate with the branch, participate in activities and programs and observe ethics while performing their duties.
The Chief Executive Officer of the association, Dr. Kayode Olushola Fasua, described ANAN as one of the top five professional accounting bodies in Africa, appealing to the inductees to respect the body at all times.