Okonjo-Iweala Lectures AT ICAN Confab

Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Head of Economic Team, will be delivering the lead paper entitled “Infrastructural Transformation & Sound Financial Management for Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria” at the 41st Annual Accountants’ Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN.

The conference which theme is: The Dawn of Transformation: Embracing Change and Seizing Opportunities will take place at the International Conference Centre and Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Abuja, from Monday, 17 October to Friday, 21 October, 2011.

It will be declared opened by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday and closed on Thursday, by the Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo.

The 47th ICAN President, Professor Francis Ojaide, will deliver the keynote address.

“This year’s conference is a definite step towards making a significant impact on governance process both in the private and public sectors”, Ojaide said in a statement.

According to him, “Nigeria is facing serious infrastructural challenges which have continued to impact negatively on the nation’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. If the prosperity of businesses is to translate into the prosperity of the nation, there must necessarily be infrastructural transformation which will drive economic growth and development for the benefit of the citizenry.”

Apart from paper presentations, workshops, plenary sessions, there will be a Conference Gala night on Thursday to be presided over by the Senate President, David Mark and graced by other dignitaries. During the gala night, a star prize of a brand new Kia Picanto car will be won at the raffle draw scheduled as part of the conference fun package which includes competitive sporting activities like golf, table tennis, swimming, novelty football match, lawn tennis, jogging, squash, excursions and business exhibitions.

Other prizes like: LCD television, refrigerator, gas cooker and 10 laptops will also be won at various times in the course of the conference.

Ace juju musician, King Sunny Ade will be on hand to thrill the conference participants which include seasoned professionals and senior financial decision-makers from various parts of the globe as well as members of the National Assembly and Nigerian government officials.

The Finance Minister’s paper will be discussed by Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as well as Mr. Bismark Rewane, CEO, FInancial Derivatives. The Chairman of the session is Prince Joseph Alaba Adebayo, FCA, a past president of ICAN.

Apart from Okonjo-Iweala, other resource persons like: the Vice President for Africa-World Bank, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Group, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, FCA, MD, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Dr. Eddy Olowo-Okere, Director, Core Operations Services, Africa Region, The World Bank, will also deliver thought-provoking papers at the conference.

Dangote and Onasanya will handle the subtheme, “The Changing Roles of the Chartered Accountants in Value-Creation and Business Sustainability” in the first plenary session which will be chaired by Balogun Bisi Omidiora, FCA, a past president of ICAN.

Ezekwesili, who is the resource person for the second plenary session, will deliver a paper on “Rebuilding Nigeria’s Value System: The Role of the Chartered Accountancy Profesion”. Discussants of the paper are Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN and Alhaji Otunba Abdul Lateef A. Owoyemi, FCA, a past president of ICAN.

Olowo-Okere will make his own presentation on the topic, “Improving Accounting and Auditing Practices Globally: The Roles of IFAC, Regional Accountancy Bodies and Development Partners and Lessons from Experience”. The topic will be discussed by Mr. Odartey Blankson, from Ghana and others.