The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) on Tuesday called on accountants in the country, to emphasis on fraud prevention as against fraud detection.
Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode, President of the association. made the call at the 2nd Session of the association’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPD) in Bauchi.
The President said one way of preventing fraud was by adopting the “whistle-blowing” mechanism.
According to him, emphasis has to be shifted from fraud detection to fraud prevention because of the herculean task involved in the process of recovering loots.
“As certified accountants, we must show the world our capacity to expose and prevent fraudulent activities.
“It is also our collective duty to be ambassadors of the association by building a society that is free from fraud and corruption .
“I assure you, if we adopt this strategy, coupled with transparent and efficient reporting system, excesses will be curbed and the incidences of corruption, will be reduced in this country, “Labode said.
He described the MCPD programme as an avenue for continuous training of members to sharpen their skills for professional job efficiency, effectiveness and acquisition of leadership skills.
The President said that this was in line with the rules of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
He said that the 2014 MCPD theme, “Trends in professional Practise and Regulation“ was carefully chosen to align with the needs of members in view of the current realities.
“The only way we can continue to guarantee our competence and capability is when we participate in MCPD and other training and re-training programmes we put together.
“These include seminars, workshops and conferences, both nationally and internationally, that are designed to expose members to new ideas in the profession.
“I urged you to avail yourselves of the opportunities provided by these capacity building programmes, to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge, so that you can remain at the top of your profession,“he advised..
In his remarks, Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State commended ANAN for being one of the leading professional bodies in Nigeria that had given priority to the training of it members, for efficiency.
“Viewing the important role of accounting in the economy, we cannot afford to lag behind in the acquisition of contemporary knowledge and skills in this very great profession.
“I am therefore pleased that ANAN has taken the right step in the direction, through the MCPD programme, “he said.
Yuguda said that his administration had over the years, encouraged employees of the state government, who were members of ANAN, to consistently attend the programme, by settling their membership fees.
He added that the state had also intervened by financing the induction of members into the association and sponsoring their studies at the Nigerian College of Accountancy, in Jos..
“As a result, ANAN membership has dramatically grown within the state civil service, from only 50 in 2007, to 150 in 2014, “he said.