The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Eastern Zonal District, has expressed interest in collaborating with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to develop postgraduate programmes in accounting.
ICAN also sought to expand opportunities for students to obtain professional qualifications alongside their academic degrees.
The Zonal Chairman of ICAN, Eastern Zonal District, Mr. Okorie Samuel, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the district’s executive committee and delegation to the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, at his office, NOUN Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr. Samuel equally used the opportunity to formally invite the Vice-Chancellor to serve as the lead paper presenter at the 21st Eastern Zonal Accountants’ Conference scheduled to hold in Enugu in April 2027.
He said the visit was to congratulate the Vice-Chancellor on his appointment, express the district’s solidarity with the university and explore areas of mutual collaboration.
He commended NOUN’s achievements in open and distance learning (ODL), particularly its use of digital technology and the integrity of its examination system, which he said informed the decision to invite the Vice-Chancellor to address the conference.
According to him, ICAN recognises the importance of partnerships with educational institutions in expanding access to quality education and professional development.
He noted that the institute, established in 1965, was committed to making professional accounting education accessible to more Nigerians.
Samuel explained that the proposed collaboration would provide opportunities for NOUN students to pursue professional accounting qualifications while completing their university programmes.
He cited ICAN’s Catch Them Young initiative, designed to encourage young people to embrace the accounting profession, as one of the programmes that could benefit NOUN students.
The zonal chairman added that the district was considering working with NOUN to develop postgraduate accounting programmes, noting that such a partnership would create additional pathways for academic advancement and professional certification.
In his response, Prof. Uduma welcomed the delegation and appreciated its decision to visit the university.
He described collaboration with professional bodies as important to NOUN’s mandate of expanding access to education and promoting lifelong learning.
He reaffirmed the university’s readiness to strengthen its relationship with ICAN and other professional organisations to create more opportunities for learners.
The Vice-Chancellor described NOUN as a leading open and distance learning institution in West Africa, noting that its flexible learning model was designed to make education accessible to Nigerians across different backgrounds and locations.
On the proposed postgraduate accounting programmes, Uduma expressed the university’s willingness to explore the initiative, stressing that partnerships with professional bodies could enhance the value of the qualifications available to students.
He also welcomed the proposal to encourage NOUN students to pursue professional accounting certifications while undertaking their university studies, describing it as a double benefit that could give graduates both academic qualifications and professional credentials.
According to him, providing such opportunities would enable students to make informed choices about their academic and professional development.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, noted that the proposed April 2027 conference date would require consideration because it might coincide with NOUN’s convocation activities and the conference of the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE).
He assured the delegation that he would consider the invitation, subject to the university’s schedule and the resolution of any potential clash.
Uduma further encouraged ICAN to submit formal proposals for collaboration, including initiatives from its national body, assuring the delegation that NOUN remains open to partnerships that would benefit students and advance educational development.
He thanked the team for the visit and reiterated the university’s commitment to building mutually beneficial relationships with professional institutions.
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