In an effort to catch them young, the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) has charged female students in secondary schools to develop a career path in the accounting profession.
It stated that developing interest in the profession at an early age would make them have an entrepreneurial potential.
The National Chairperson of SWAN, Mrs. Nwamara Nnaji, gave the charge at the association’s career day programme involving 10 Girls’ Secondary Schools in District IV, Lagos State.
The event held with the theme, ‘Navigating into the World of Accountancy Profession and Making your Dream a Reality’, at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) annex, Yaba, Lagos.
The programme was aimed at instilling a sense of confidence in the accounting profession in the students.
Nnaji said the programme was designed to broaden their minds as they set up to choose a profession.
She said: “The purpose of this career talk is to share what we have learnt in our personal career journey that has helped us to progress, to assist you identify potential career paths, and make informed decisions about your future. That future is for you all to become Chartered Accountants.”
Nnaji encouraged the students to choose a career in accounting, adding: “Our profession as Accountants is wide and all embracing. We encourage students to delve into the accounting profession, the only profession relevant to all organisations and businesses.”
Also speaking, a lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management sciences, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mrs. Oluwabunmi Adebunmi, said there wasneed to encourage the students to go into the accounting profession at an early stage.
“Students can navigate into Accounting profession through the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), Joint AdmissionsMatriculation Board (JAMB), direct entry such as Joint University Preliminary Examination Board (JUPEB), Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) and through professional bodies,” she said.
Adebunmi noted that some schools take Associate Accounting Technician (AAT) for direct entry. According to her, there were lots of benefits for being an accountant.
She explained that the profession gives one the ability to work in all industries; has a stable and growing demand, provides a clear career path, strong earning potential and theopportunity to help others.
The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, District IV, Lagos, Mr. Olusegun Osinaike, who was represented by Principal Education Officer (District IV Lagos), Mrs. Adebisi Omolaoye, said she was most passionate about students excelling in their various fields of human endeavour, be it Accounting, English, Mathematics, etc.
“It is our duty and responsibility to ensure that our students acquire the best skills and orientation on how best to explore and harness their career options.
“Our girl child who ends up becoming a future woman/mother is a front runner in the home and society and thus needs to be well enhanced in the proper management of financial resources at her disposal at all times,” she stated.
Chairperson of SWAN Career Talk Committee, Mrs. Ronke Akeredolu, also said: “We are determined to give the best in respect of training the girl-child to navigate through the accounting profession and making a career dream a reality,” Akeredolu said.
