By: Nnabugwu Chizoba
Since the formation of the
Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), that gave birth to the
renowned Nigerian College of Accountancy, the training arm of the legendary
Accountancy body, it is yet to be seen, that any private sector group,
especially the Professional Associations, have bequeathed to the Nigerian economy
and system, anything comparable, in terms of worth, in size, magnitude and
impact, what ANAN, through the Nigerian College of Accountancy, did for Nigeria.
I stand to be corrected.
As it is common, in any human endeavour
embarked upon by man, the attainment of such height by the founders of ANAN and
by implication the Nigerian College of Accountancy, suggest that huddles were passed
to establish ANAN and the College. Some of the huddles passed to live such a
remarkable imprint in history, may have been self-inflicted at a point and at
other times, driven or motivated by external forces, which when considered by
any objective analysts or assessors, of the Nigerian economy and the
socio-political development, would readily come to a conclusion that the era
and the people involved in that epoch making event marked the dawn of
creativity, boldness and entrepreneurial exploits, to shape the future direction
of Nigeria and her efforts towards self-determination, nation building and
economic emancipation.
To say that the efforts of the
focused individuals (the founders of ANAN), a very small fraction of the
Nigerian populace, is second to no other, is to state the obvious. Conversely to
think by any stretch of imagination, that such individuals remain un-song and un-celebrated
by Nigerians casts a lot of doubt on the sincerity of both the Nigerian leadership
and Nigerians as well.
I observed in another write up, in
the past that the founders of ANAN, are National heroes. What I did not say
then, but that has become manifest in this discourse, is that they are yet to
be well honoured, adequately celebrated and indeed generously decorated by the
Nigeria state. Another thing that I wish also to establish is this; the
inability of the Nigerian state to herald the exploits of those achievers,
sign-posted the derailment of the Nigerian agenda which those wise men saw and
worked so hard to lay a solid foundation for, many years ago.
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| Chief Chukwuemeka Nzom, ANAN President |
The media, at both the national and
state levels, governments at different strata, groups, and all advocates of
good, equity, fairness, national consciousness and defenders of posterity should
rise in one voice and accord, and in line with best practices, call for a mass
movement towards giving a pride of place to these worthy ambassadors of
Nigeria. Aptly captured in the Nigerian National Anthem, the nation’s symbol of
honour, collective identity and aspiration, is a portion that says:
“The labours of our heroes past shall never be in vein”. On the strength
of this, let me hope and be consoled that it could have been an oversight that
will be remedied, soon.
Nigerians wake up daily, make deliberate
efforts in their various fields of human endeavor, consciously aware that the struggle
to build an inclusive, formidable, resilient, stable, and self-sustaining national
economy, is a function of creating a very robust and reliable socio-economic platforms,
with capacity to raise sub-structures, linkages and diversifications of immense
degree and outcomes. Economic experts and analysts view such platforms as the hallmark
of a functional development blueprint. The ideology behind the creation of ANAN
is one of such platforms.
Apart from being discouraging and
demeaning of their roles and efforts, at not only building the national economy
but also the confidence of Nigerians, not celebrating these national ICONS
lives an impression in the minds of the youth and the coming generation, that
men of goodwill are never celebrated, in Nigeria.
What is practically deducible from
the on-going narrative is the fact that the founders of ANAN are not just heroes,
because they overcame the numerous oppositions encountered on their way, to
establish the Association, but of course, for their foresight and legendary
role in evolving a system that among other benefits ensures that the process of
grooming Professional Accountants in Nigeria, is deeply, firmly, systematically
and strategically rooted.
An attempt to peep into the minds
of the founders of ANAN, reveals something very unique and transformational, considering
that one fundamental issue in this inquest will be to task the mind as to what
would have led them to the formation of the august body.
Reconciling the above, with their
efforts and manner they went about the struggle, it is very easy to allude to
the fact they were spurred by overwhelming belief and unflinching conviction that
the recognition of the efficacy of an alternative approach, infused with local,
traditional and domestic content in the training of Professional Accountants,
will raise dependable structures of development. Their efforts like anything good, withered
the storm of opposition and negativity, and in that state graciously,
eventfully and convincingly accorded legitimacy to the establishment of a Professional
Postgraduate Accountancy College, celebrated today as the Nigerian College of
Accountancy.
Worthy of note, is the fact that the
Nigerian College of Accountancy is first of its kind, in Africa and second, in
the World. The College is brilliantly designed to groom Professional
Accountants, in the globe; and of Nigerian extraction in Nigeria. The impact of
that decision taken many years ago, on the Nigerian economy of today, can never
be over emphasized. Among Nigeria’s export today, is Accounting knowledge.
Juxtapose this against the scourge of medical tourism, with its inherent
negative effect on the economy of Nigeria, and you will begin to feel the full
import of the efforts of the founders of ANAN.
How else can I end this piece, but
to say: “In the midst of successful people, there are indeed great ones”.
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