FIRS, Pedabo, ICAN seek sustainable businesses in Nigeria

Nigeria’s economic growth and generational wealth have been hinged on a strong determination by Nigerians to build organisation that priorities the culture of excellence and a strong foundation.

Coming as a Nigerian accounting firm, Kreston Pedabo marks silver jubilee in Lagos, Executive Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, Managing Partner, Kreston Pedabo, Ajibade Fashina, Chairman and Founder, Elizade Motors; Michael Ade-Ojo, Managing Consultant, Kreston Pedabo, Albert Folorunsho, Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe insisted that Nigerians must look beyond themselves when building businesses.

The experts, which also included Co-Founder/ Chief Executive Officer, Tomato Jos Farming and Processing Limited, Mira Mehta; Triumph Power and Gas Systems Limited; Bolaji Ososami; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Unified Payments Services Limited; Agada Apochi, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service; Ayodele Subair, Head of Department, Telecommunications and Broadcast Department representative of Zaach Adedeji, Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Olusegun Sosimi noted the need for knowledge, relationship, interest in developing strong workforce that must be allowed to thrive and courage to take calculated risks despite the country’s challenges.

Speaking at the event that saw the accounting firm rebrands into Kreston Pedabo, Oyedele, who revealed that he started his career at the firm noted that the level of professionalism that marked the foundation of the organisation if replication by other companies would enable the country build trans-generational businesses that would be end up on the global stage.

Oyedele also noted that the priority by the organisation on staff well fair and development remained critical to sustainable growth both in the public and private organizations.

President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr Innocent Okwuosa said the firm has not only demonstrated proficiency in the accountancy and advisory services but has also consistently raised the bar for professionalism and client satisfaction.

“Your contributions to the business landscape, your role in shaping the future of the accountancy profession, and your commitment to fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation are truly commendable,” Okwuosa said.

Ade-Ojo, who asked business owners to choose the firms that they would entrust services wisely, noted that the choice of wrong and incompetent service providers could jeopardize businesses.

He disclosed that he had worked with Pedabo over the years only because the organisation was able to justify value for money.

Ajibade, who noted that accounting has come to stay and would continue to improve noted that technology such as Al and the blockchain, creates a lot of potential to be harnessed in the short and long term.

Disclosing that Pedabo is positioned to champion a lot of innovation and best practices in that line in the coming years, said the company surmounted challenges that crippled other firms because of the strong value system and determination to not only do the right things but also do things right.

Folorunsho disclosed that the company started from a firm of two young partners and one employee but has grown to 10 partners and over 170 employees.

He noted that the company would be among the top three accounting firms in Nigeria in the next 25 years, stressing that the rebranding of the company to join Kreston network would enable the company to offer better services and improve the economy of the country.

Ososami asked business owners to define their values upfront and create a system that enables businesses to continue even when they are not there so that businesses could grow sustainably and even outlive their founders.

Agada urged the government to ensure that small businesses are not suffocated in terms of multiple taxation.

Adedeji said the firm remained critical to the aspiration of the country in strengthening tax, auditing and improving advisory services for businesses to thrive.