Digital Competence Is Key to Future of Accounting Profession, Says Ondo ICAN Chairman

The Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ondo and District Society, Mr. Muritala Steve Oluwanife Shittu, has called on practising and aspiring accountants to embrace digital technology to improve their professional competence and remain globally competitive.

Shittu made the call on Thursday, August 20, 2026, while speaking at a programme organised by the National Association of Accounting Students (NAOAS), Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo Chapter.

Speaking on the growing influence of technology in contemporary society, the ICAN Ondo District Society Chairman advised accountants who still rely heavily on traditional methods of record keeping to abandon the practice in order to remain relevant in the changing professional environment.

He noted that the accounting profession was undergoing rapid digital transformation, with technology changing the way financial information is captured, processed, analysed and reported.

“The accounting profession is undergoing rapid digital transformation and technology is reshaping how financial information is captured, processed, analysed and reported. Today’s accountants must evolve from traditional record keepers to strategic digital professionals,” he stated.

The guest speaker described digital transformation in accounting as the integration of digital technologies into accounting processes, including the automation of manual tasks, use of data analysis for decision-making and adoption of cloud-based systems for real-time access, data storage, accuracy, speed and transparency in financial reporting.

He identified some digital tools introduced into the accounting profession between 2021 and 2026 as Rillet, DOSS, Campfire, Dual Entry, Receptor AI and Pilot Meridian.

Shittu also highlighted key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), cloud accounting platforms, blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology, noting their contributions to the development of the accounting profession.

While encouraging members of NAOAS to take their studies seriously, the accounting expert identified several career opportunities available to them after graduation, including digital auditing, data analysis and forensic technology.

He also identified some of the challenges currently confronting the accounting profession in Nigeria, including cybersecurity threats and data breaches, the high cost of technology, skills gaps among accounting graduates, resistance to technological change in traditional accounting firms and ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in financial decision-making.

Speaking on the future of the profession, Shittu urged the students to continually seek knowledge and develop their expertise in accounting and emerging technologies.

“Accountants who thrive tomorrow are those who embrace technology today. Let us prepare, innovate and lead the future of accounting in Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking at the programme, the Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, AFUED, Dr. Mrs. Oluseto Abidemi Olatuyi, advised the students to maintain good conduct, build a positive personal brand and represent the university well.

She also urged them to be mindful of their appearance, stressing that “the way you dress is the way you will be addressed.”

In his remarks, a lecturer in the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, AFUED, Dr. Akinwumi Sarimakin, urged the students to devote more attention to their studies.

“He who fails to prepare, prepares to fail,” he said.

Sarimakin further advised members of NAOAS not to allow campus activities to distract them from their primary responsibility at the university, which he identified as their education.

The event, held at the Adesina Lecture Hall of the university, was attended by several university personalities, including the Dean, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Prof. Tope Ozeigbe; Mrs. Akinboyewa Gladys; Mr. Awogbemi Ola; Dr. Adebayo Sunday; Dr. Mrs. Oluseto Abidemi Olatuyi; and Dr. O. S. Agun, among others.