Dr. Innocent Iweka Okwuosa, the 59th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has promised to use his office as the President of the Institute to address the issue of youth restiveness in the oil-producing communities.
This he said would be realised by ensuring that Oguta youths are attracted to the accounting profession through the Accounting Technician Scheme programme.
Okwuosa made the commitment shortly after being admitted into the Royal Privy Council of Oguta, the Oririnzere Oba of Oguta and conferred with the title of Damanze Aka-Udo by His Royal Highness, Igwe Nnani NzeribeIyiche, the paramount ruler of Oguta Ancient Kingdom.
The Oririnzere Oba is the highest traditional title in Oguta.
The event which saw members of Oririnzere Oba of Oguta and other dignitaries gather at the King’s palace came to its climax when the 59th ICAN President took an oath of allegiance to be of the best behaviour while serving as the King’s Privy Council member and was decorated with the traditional attire of Oririnzere Oba.
This was followed by all the members of Oririnzere Oba taking some majestic dance steps including Okwuosa whose dance steps attracted cheers and sounds of joy from the teeming crowd.
Addressing the gathering at Igwe’s Palace, after the decoration and conferment of the title, Dr Okwuosa appreciated the Igwe Nnani Nzeribe for conferring on him the highest title of the land and commended the Igwe for working hard to ensure that peace reigns among his people, which was why the event could go smoothly without hitches.
“In my acceptance speech, I have highlighted one or two things I can do to assist the community: youth empowerment specifically and human capital development in general, because youth restiveness is caused largely by joblessness.
“I belong to a profession, and I ask myself how many of my people are in this profession. So, one of the things I intend to do is to garner support and introduce a scheme that would make Oguta people begin to enrol to become chartered accountants.
“If you are a chartered accountant or you are on your way to becoming a chartered accountant, you are not likely to engage in those things that distract the youths and make them restive causing trouble,” he said.
He promised to contribute to youth empowerment and make sure that the benefit of being an oil community reaches the Oguta people.
