Internal Auditors in universities have been urged to adopt digital technology in their operations to promote transparency and prevent fraud within the system.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, stated this at the 38th National Conference of the Committee of Heads of Internal Audit Departments in Nigerian Universities (CHIADINU). held at the institution.

The conference, which drew internal audit professionals from institutions across the country, focused on the theme: ‘Revolutionising internal auditing in Nigerian universities through digital transformation.’

Georgewill noted that the growing complexity of university administration requires a technological shift to enhance efficiency and reduce corruption.

“The call to embrace digital tools is very important at this point in time, because work is becoming too cumbersome, and technology is making things easier for everyone. Once operations are digital, everything becomes transparent and accessible. Fraud will be minimised because you can no longer hide anything in files.

In his keynote address, Prof. Emmanuel Ibanichuka highlighted the urgent need to revolutionise internal auditing in Nigerian universities through data analytics, robotic process automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and continuous auditing.

He noted that traditional audit methods, which rely on manual checks and retrospective analysis, are no longer adequate in addressing the digital and governance challenges confronting universities.

“Internal audit ensures value and integrity, but legacy methods create expectation gaps. A technological revolution is essential for proactive, value-adding auditing,” Ibanichuka said.

He added that adopting digital tools will enhance fraud detection, improve governance accountability, and align Nigerian universities with global best practices.

In his remarks, Chairman of CHIADINU and Director of Internal Audit, UNIPORT, Dr Boniface Woko, emphasised that the digital transformation of auditing is a global necessity that Nigeria must not resist.

“Change is constant, and everyone must adapt when it comes. Moving from analogue to digital is a revolution we cannot avoid,” Woko stated.

He explained that the introduction of modern auditing tools would strengthen internal control systems and help curb corruption.

Speaking on behalf of participants, Executive Director of Internal Audit, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Dr Bright Nwemadi, described the conference as timely, saying internal auditors must align with global digital trends to safeguard university assets and finances.

“To transform internal audit in this digital age, we must key into digital tools. This is an era of revolution in every aspect of human endeavour, and internal auditing cannot be left behind,” he said.