The call was made on Saturday in Ibadan during the unveiling of ICAN Oluyole Insight, the maiden newsletter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Oluyole and District Society.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairman of the district society, Dr. Olawale Dopemu, said the publication was conceived as a strategic platform to keep members informed, stimulate professional conversations and provide credible perspectives on emerging issues shaping the accounting profession.
He noted that the profession has witnessed remarkable changes in recent years, with technological innovations, artificial intelligence, sustainability reporting, corporate governance reforms and evolving regulatory frameworks redefining the responsibilities of accountants across industries.
“The accounting profession continues to evolve rapidly in response to technological advancement, changing regulations, sustainability reporting, corporate governance reforms, artificial intelligence, and the growing expectations of stakeholders. As professionals, we must remain informed, adaptable, and proactive,” Dopemu said.
According to him, the newsletter will not only document the activities of the district society but also serve as a reliable source of information, analysis and intellectual engagement for professionals and other stakeholders.
Explaining the rationale behind the publication's title, Dopemu said ICAN Oluyole Insight was deliberately chosen to reflect the values of understanding, foresight and informed decision-making, qualities that remain central to the accounting profession.
He expressed optimism that the newsletter would become an important reference material for practitioners, academics, students, regulators, business executives and policymakers seeking credible information on accounting, taxation, auditing, finance, corporate governance and economic development.
“We envision this newsletter becoming a valuable reference for practitioners, academics, students, regulators, business leaders, and other stakeholders who seek credible perspectives on accounting, taxation, auditing, finance, governance, and economic development,” he said.
Dopemu also acknowledged the efforts of the editorial board, newsletter committee, executive members, sponsors and other contributors whose commitment made the publication a reality.
He further encouraged members of the institute to actively sustain the initiative by submitting articles, sharing professional experiences, celebrating achievements within the profession and contributing ideas that would enhance the quality and relevance of future editions.
Delivering the keynote address on professional communication and knowledge sharing within ICAN, Governing Council member and Patron of the district, Olaitan Babatunde, described the launch of the newsletter as a significant milestone for the society.
He stressed that effective communication remains indispensable to the growth and sustainability of professional institutions, adding that regular engagement with members strengthens trust, preserves institutional memory and promotes active participation.
According to Babatunde, communication should not be limited to disseminating information but should also serve as a tool for building confidence, shaping perceptions and encouraging collaboration among members.
“When communication is weak, members become disconnected. Rumours may replace facts, assumptions may replace clarity, and even good initiatives may not receive the recognition or support they deserve,” Babatunde said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the District's Publications and Editorial Committee, Dr. Oluwatosin Adesina, explained that the newsletter was established to document the society's activities, key decisions and milestones while providing members with updates on developments influencing the accounting profession.
He said the publication would equally provide technical knowledge, professional guidance and thought leadership, celebrate members' achievements and create opportunities for younger professionals to contribute to discussions on the future of the profession.
Adesina observed that accounting has evolved far beyond its traditional image of bookkeeping and financial statement preparation, noting that accountants are now expected to provide strategic business insights and support organisational decision-making.
“Before now, everybody will always be looking at debit and credit. And so an accountant was labelled as a professional who, after recording transactions, proceeded to do the balance sheet and the financial statement, and that is where it ends. But what we see nowadays is that after the financial statement, your work as an accountant starts.
“We now see the dynamics of what the accounting profession is bringing on board. Before now, we didn't have forensic accounting, sustainability accounting, human resource accounting, and all of these things are filtering into the accounting profession such that when you say you're an accountant, you do not see your job as just to prepare a financial statement, far from it.
“We have a whole lot of software that can produce that in a couple of minutes or even seconds by just hitting the buttons and it produces parts that would have taken periods to bring together. But after you have produced a financial statement, that is when your work as a strategist and as an accountant starts. So you look at the implications of what the result is saying, the way forward. What are the prospects and the whole lot?
“So the accountant's work has gone beyond the static profession that we used to know into a dynamic one which cuts across every area of life,” Adesina said.
The event attracted members of the accounting profession, industry stakeholders and invited guests, including the Chairman of ICAN Ogba/Ojodu and District Society, Dr. Olalekan Osinowo, alongside members of the Oluyole District Society.