By Chidinma Okafor and Taiye Olayemi
The Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged secondary school students to plan their careers early and develop relevant skills.
SWAN’s National Chairperson, Mrs Blessing Osakwe-Ogo, gave the advice at an inter-school quiz competition and career talk in Lagos.
The event, organised by SWAN, featured students from 20 secondary schools across Districts One to Five in Lagos.
Osakwe-Ogo said the programme was designed to encourage students to develop interest in accounting and explore other career opportunities.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Beyond Numbers: How Accountants Secretly Run the World’, Dr Jumoke Ogunleye said accounting went beyond numbers.
Ogunleye, an Associate Professor of Accounting and Head, Department of Accounting, University of Lagos, urged students to consider career choices early.
She said career decisions should be guided by a desire to make positive contributions to society.
According to her, exposing young people to professions such as accounting would help them understand their relevance and opportunities.
Ogunleye said figures handled by accountants provided information capable of influencing important decisions in businesses and organisations.
She said accountants played significant roles in resource management, calculating profits and revenues, and determining business sustainability.
“Accounting is not just about numbers; it is about what those numbers represent.
“Accountants can influence the direction of companies through the financial information and decisions they handle,” Ogunleye added.
Also speaking, Mrs Helen Ukpabi explained the requirements and procedures for becoming an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) student.
Ukpabi, who spoke on “Becoming a Student of ICAN and Writing Exams”, said the scheme included ATSWA and professional programmes.
She said applicants for the Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) required five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
According to her, people who had completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme could also register for ATSWA.
Ukpabi advised prospective students not to allow age to discourage them from pursuing professional accounting qualifications.
Similarly, Mrs Okorie Helen, Chairman, Lagos Mainland and District Society, said accounting offered opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
She encouraged students interested in the profession to remain focused and goal-oriented, noting that academic excellence could open scholarship opportunities.
“Just have that dream; dreams can come true,” she said.
The quiz competition featured students from 20 co-educational secondary schools across the five districts.
In the junior category, Festac Girls Junior High School emerged winner, while Girls Junior High School, Agege, came second.
Boys Junior Academy placed third in the junior category.
In the senior category, Archdeacon Adelaja High School emerged winner, followed by Herbert Macaulay Girls Senior High School.
Festac Girls Senior High School placed third in the senior category.
Some participating students expressed satisfaction with the initiative, saying it provided opportunities to learn and test their knowledge.
The event ended with the presentation of prizes to winners in the various categories.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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