.Bags Merit Award Alongside Akwa Ibom Gov, FIRS Boss, Others
By Lekan Adejuwon
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, has been honoured by the most prestigious body of the accounting profession in Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
It was a dream come true for the Speaker, who became a chartered accountant thirty one years ago, to get the coveted ICAN Merit Award at the body’s Annual Dinner and Awards Night held in Lagos on Saturday.
Other awardees at the ceremony included Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami; former Chairman, KPMG Africa and Senior Partner, KPMG Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Elebute; President/CEO, Signal House Consulting Limited, Dr. Greg Ezeilo and Managing Director/CEO UYK Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Usman Yahaya Kansila.
According to a statement by her Special Adviser (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, the Speaker was joined by her husband, Pastor Adepoju Adelugba; her fellow lawmakers in the Ekiti Assembly, associates and professional colleagues to celebrate the honour bestowed on her.
Rt. Hon. Adelugba who felt elated to be honoured by the premier body of accountants in Nigeria described the award as “the crowning glory for her career” having nursed the dream to become an accountant as a school leaver.
She said: “ICAN merit award is a crowning moment for my career, 31 years after becoming a chartered accountant is a dream come true. Since my leaving school, it was my quest to become an accountant.
“I was determined to work hard to become one. I thank God for this crowing moment. If there is any award that has meaning to me, today’s award is a crowning moment for me, my story and my career.”
The ICAN Governing Council approved the nomination of the Ekiti Speaker alongside other distinguished members of the profession who have excelled in the practice.
ICAN Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Ahmed Kumshe extolled the virtues of the Speaker and her contribution to the accounting profession in Nigeria.
According to the ICAN chief said the award bestowed on Adelugba “was in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the ideals of the Institute which include accountability, integrity and honesty.”
The prestigious body of accountants is delighted at Rt. Hon. Adelugba’s exemplary leadership qualities, commitment to human capital development and nation building particularly her selfless service to the growth of accountancy profession in Nigeria.
Nominations were received from members of the Institute and they were carefully reviewed by Awards Committee which came up with the final recommendations to the Council.
Rt. Hon. Adelugba was joined by the Ekiti Assembly Deputy Leader of Business, Hon. Abiodun Fawekun; Chief Whip, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Ayodeji Ajayi; Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Lateef Akanle; Chairman, Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi; among others.
