The Chairman of the Kano & District Society of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Hajiya Hadiza Gambo, has expressed concern over the low participation of northern youths in professional accounting programs compared to their southern counterparts.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with SolaceBase TV,  Hadiza recalled that in 2019, only six candidates from five northern states sat for the Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) exam, while a single centre in Lagos recorded over 4,000 candidates during the same diet.

“It was alarming to see that across five states in the North, only six students sat for the exam. Meanwhile, Lagos had six centres, and one of those alone had over 4,000 students. That was when we knew we had to act,” she said.

She called on young people in the region to take advantage of the program, which is designed to help even secondary school leavers start a career in accounting.

“Joining ICAN is free, and the benefits are many — from career guidance to scholarships and job opportunities,” she added.

Since then, the Kano society has intensified its outreach, especially through the ATSWA program, which targets SSCE holders with five credits, including Mathematics and English.

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She noted that over 100 students from Bayero University Kano (BUK) have now enrolled in the program, with more than 10 already qualified as chartered accountants before graduating.

According to her, many of these students also excel academically. “Those who went through ATSWA often graduate with distinction. The discipline and exposure they get from the program really shape their performance,” she said.

To increase awareness, the Kano ICAN society is ramping up its ‘Catch Them Young’ initiative, visiting secondary and tertiary institutions quarterly to inform students about the profession. The society is also engaging corps members and offering career talks in schools.

Beyond physical outreach, Hajiya Hadiza said the society plans to improve its digital presence by actively using platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to share its activities and engage a wider audience.

She also emphasized ICAN’s commitment to ethics and professionalism. “The Institute has a strong disciplinary system, including a Code of Conduct and a disciplinary committee to handle cases of misconduct,” she explained.

On the rising influence of technology and artificial intelligence in the financial sector, she said ICAN constantly updates its curriculum to keep its members relevant.

“A new syllabus is being introduced in the November exams. We ensure our members stay in tune with global accounting standards,” she added.

For women in the profession, Hajiya Hadiza highlighted the efforts of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), which operates within every ICAN district society.

“SWAN offers mentorship, school outreach, and scholarships for female students in every exam diet. We want to empower more women to take leadership roles in accounting,” she said.

With a renewed focus on training, digital visibility, and youth engagement, the Kano ICAN Chairperson expressed confidence that the society will continue to bridge the gap and nurture the next generation of finance professionals.