L-R: Isaiah Christian, Sole administrator, Ikwerre LGA with Chioma Ojukwu, chairman, ICAN Obio/Akpor District.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has concluded arrangements to offer specialized services to one of the local council areas in the Rivers State.
This is a fallout of the meeting held Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the headquarters of the Ikwerre LGA when ICAN Obio/Akpor and District paid a courtesy visit.
The district led by Chioma Ojukwu, a fellow and university lecturer, mentioned capacity building (training), internship and youth engagement, financial literacy campaign, and professional advisory support as some of the strategic services ICAN was ready to offer.
The ICAN chairman said the district was excited that one of its brilliant members, Isaiah Christian was picked to lead Ikwerre as sole administrator by the Sole Administrator of the state.
On capacity building, Ojukwu said ICAN was willing to organize tailored training sessions and workshops for the staff, particularly those in finance, audit, and administration unit, to enhance efficiency, transparency, and financial prudence.
On internship and youth engagement, she said it would happen through structured mentorship and internship placements of young accounting graduates and students within the LGA.
ICAN said both bodies could carry out community-based financial literacy campaigns on budgeting, record-keeping for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), market traders, and financial discipline among the general public.
Ojukwu said the members were available to offer technical advisory support on internal controls, budgeting, and financial planning to aid the smooth running of the sole administrator’s systems.
The chartered accountants said as professionals trained in financial management, accountability, and integrity, they were delighted to engage constructively with the administration to foster transparency, capacity development, and socio-economic progress. “This visit is not only to identify with one of our own and with your office but also to explore potential areas of collaboration that will be mutually beneficial to the Local Government and Accountancy Profession.”
Responding, the newly appointed sole administrator of the local council mentioned revenue generation strategies as one of the areas that collaboration could be immediately needed.
He spoke extensively on the important roles chartered accountants play in the economy of the country, the state and the local government councils.
He further promised to collaborate with the District Society in areas of revenue generation, human capital development, and youth empowerment. He also promised to continue to support the District on initiatives that would promote the progress of ICAN at large.
It is not clear how long the sole administrators appointed in the 23 local councils in Rivers State would last until election is conducted into the councils following the screening of chairmen of the election commission, but experts said the foundation laid in the areas of collaboration with ICAN may set Ikwerre LGA ahead of the other LGAs even after the tenure of the present sole administrators.
