Professional accountants urged to become entrepreneurs

Accounting professionals have been urged to participate in the ongoing entrepreneurial revolution taking place in the country.

Discussants at the third entrepreneurship symposium of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Ikeja District Society, pointed out that the training of chartered accountants would make them indispensable in any sector and business endeavour.

A past President of the institute, Mr. Emmanual Ijewure, while speaking on the theme, ‘Tapping opportunities from your environment,’ said that it was discovered recently that about 80 per cent of managers in banks were chartered accountants as well as about 80 per cent of directors in insurance companies.

Therefore he enjoined chartered accountants to utilise the training they had received in building sustainable businesses.

“Have the confidence that if you are able to hold that certificate, you will be able to grow in other areas. Entrepreneurship comes from within. You have to believe in yourself. The notion that farmers and poverty are synonymous has changed,” he said.

Highlighting missed business opportunities in the agricultural sector, he said that the country used to be the fourth largest producer of tomatoes in the world.

“Nigeria today is the second largest importer of tomato paste. Nigeria exports cassava products at the tune of zero per cent. Lagos is the biggest market for foodstuff in West Africa. Keep your mind open because there is a lot of money to be made. Use your training at every stage of your business,” he added.

The Managing Director, Finishline Bureau De Change, Mrs. Abiola Otaniyi, advised participants who intend to go into business for money to observe business opportunities in their environment.

“There must be forward and backward integration in business. There may be times you need to diversify totally to unknown areas. You must ensure that the business pays itself out so that you don’t run into debt,” she said.

Other discussants at the forum were past President of ICAN, Mr. Doyin Owolabi; Assistant Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Mr. Patrick Sanni; and Zonal Co-ordinator, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. George Enyiekpon, among others.

by Ife Adedapo