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By Olakunle Olafioye
As digital technologies redefine global business operations, telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria has urged accountants and finance professionals to retool and embrace emerging technologies to remain relevant in the fast-evolving digital economy.
Speaking at the 55th Annual Accountants Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), MTN Nigeria’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Modupe Kadri, declared that the accounting profession must “urgently adapt” to disruptive forces such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and fintech innovations now reshaping financial practice worldwide.
“Everybody needs to upskill themselves. You have to retool — I’m retooling myself,” Kadri said during a media session on the sidelines of the conference. “What we were taught in school is not enough anymore. Professionals must now learn cloud skills, artificial intelligence, IT, cybersecurity — those are what will define the future of accounting.”
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Kadri stressed that MTN is deliberately supporting Nigeria’s drive for digital capacity building through partnerships with academic and professional institutions. He explained that MTN’s sponsorship of the ICAN conference reflects its vision of enabling professionals to thrive in a tech-driven economy.
“At MTN, we believe that the future of every profession — accounting inclusive — is digital,” he said. “Our partnership with ICAN is a demonstration of our support for Nigeria’s journey toward a smarter economy. Accountants are strategic to national development, and we want to ensure they are not left behind as technology transforms business operations.”
According to him, MTN will continue to invest in initiatives that promote digital literacy, enterprise innovation, and resilience among Nigeria’s workforce. The company, he said, views digital transformation not just as a business imperative but as a national development agenda that requires collaboration between corporate leaders and professional institutions.
Kadri further highlighted the dual role of artificial intelligence in finance — as both an enabler and a challenge. While AI enhances accuracy and efficiency, he warned, it cannot substitute human judgment. “AI can simplify things and reduce review time, but it cannot provide human experience,” he said. “Professionals must learn how to interpret AI outputs and not rely blindly on them.”
In his welcome address, ICAN President, Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya, described the conference as more than a professional gathering — a national call to action to rebuild Nigeria’s economic foundations and strengthen institutional resilience amid reform pressures, inflation, and uncertainty.
“For 60 years, ICAN has helped shape Nigeria’s economic story — setting standards, mentoring generations, and influencing policy direction,” Yahaya said. “This year’s conference is about deepening Nigeria’s roots so that our economy can withstand the winds of change and align reforms for sustainable development.”
With the theme “Building Resilience – Aligning Reforms for Nigeria’s Development,” the conference aims to push conversations around the structural and institutional barriers limiting Nigeria’s progress — and how professionals, through innovation and integrity, can help drive the nation’s digital and economic transformation.
