LEVERAGING ICAN TO BOLSTER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN SOKOTO STATE –By Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
Determined to improve the efficiency of its accounting personnel, the Sokoto State Government, through the instrument of the State Ministry of Finance, despatched a high-powered delegation to the recently held epochal investiture of the new ICAN Chairman and other executives of the Sokoto and District Society for the 2026/2027 session.
Happily, the delegation was led by a core professional, the Deputy Accountant General of the state, Alhaji Junaidu Usman Junaidu, a dexterous, dogged and pious personality.
Junaidu was also conferred with the “Award of Excellence” by the Society in recognition of his contributions to the profession and to public service.
Speaking shortly after the ceremony, Junaidu said the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, a fellow distinguished and meticulous Accountant himself, recognizes that credible financial management can only be achieved through well-trained and ethical professionals.
“I am assuring the people of Sokoto State, Insha Allah, His Excellency will do all he can to ensure that more people from Sokoto State are enrolled into the membership of ICAN,” he declared.
Junaidu noted that strengthening the capacity of Accountants in the civil service is key to the successful delivery of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 9-Point Smart Agenda, which prioritizes education, health, agriculture, security, water resources, youth and women empowerment, infrastructure, and prudent financial management.
“With more ICAN-certified professionals, we will ensure transparency, block leakages, strengthen budget performance, and guarantee that every kobo under the 9-Point Agenda delivers value to the people,” he said.
He cited the government’s record since 2023 in prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, rehabilitation of primary healthcare centers, and construction of roads, schools and rural infrastructure as direct outcomes of disciplined financial planning.
Consequently, the Governor has tangibly transformed the outlook of the state from that of an underdeveloped one when he assumed office in 2023 to a more developed and dignifying society.
This happy and enviable feat, according to Junaidu, can never be achieved without having a committed, accountable and transparent leader like Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
He added that this welcome development in Sokoto State has always been bolstered by the diligence and unwavering commitment of those handling the finances of the state.
It is also incumbent to extol the ceaseless, fatherly, patriotic and strategic guidance of the APC leader in the state, Distinguished Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, former Governor of Sokoto State.
This fatherly watch has been very invaluable and critical to the retinue of successes recorded by Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, all courtesy of the 9-Point Smart Agenda.
Junaidu further noted that ICAN-trained Accountants are bound by a global code of ethics that promotes prudence, accuracy, and integrity in handling public resources.
“When you have more professionals who understand the rules of accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, it becomes easier to give citizens confidence that their money is being properly used,” he said.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman of ICAN Sokoto and District Society, Mr. Adeboye Oluwakayode Daniel, commended his colleagues for the confidence reposed in them. He pledged to serve with excellence, integrity and purpose, and described the office as “a sacred trust.”
He assured that the new executive for 2026/2027 will partner with the government to organize training programs, workshops and mentorship to help more Accountants in the state qualify.
According to the Chairman of the Investiture Committee, Mr. Mathew Ayinla, the theme of the event, _Accounting Beyond Borders: Strengthening Professional Leadership in an Era of Geopolitics and Regional Integration’, aptly captures the evolving responsibilities of professional accountants in an increasingly interconnected world.
Financial experts say the move to leverage ICAN is timely, especially with increased federal allocations, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project, and other development programmes tied to the 9-Point Agenda of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA.
For the government, enrolling more Accountants into ICAN is about building a system where every Naira is accounted for, audit queries are minimized, and public trust is restored.
As Junaidu put it, “Accountability is not an event. It is a culture. And that culture starts with professionals who are trained, certified, and committed to the public good.”
With this renewed partnership between the Sokoto State Government and the new ICAN leadership, and with the strategic guidance of party leadership, the state is positioning itself to set a new standard for transparency and accountability in the North-West and Nigeria in general.
This is further tangibly evidenced by the exemplary and commendable manner in which Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has been making sure that the huge resources of the state are truly utilized for infrastructural development and boosting the general wellbeing of the people of the state.
He has also consistently ensured that no kobo is wasted but it is used to develop Sokoto state for it to be at par with its peers across Nigeria.
In fact, this commitment has never been a nullity as Sokoto State has blossomed from grass to grace from May 29, 2023 to date. The happy trajectory of development will certainly be sustained and ramped up henceforth. This, all are sure of, as Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto never handled the affairs of Sokoto State with kid’s gloves.
Indeed, his commendable 9-Point Smart Agenda is working and it will continue to do so to the admiration of even the doubting Thomases, In sha Allahu, Amen.
Conclusively, it is the unwavering commitment of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and all those entrusted with the humongous resources accruing to the state to remain pious, patriotic, diligent, transparent and accountable in the discharge of their duties for the good of the people.
Mani is a Sokoto-based journalist
