Seasoned accountant, astute auditor, financial services guru, public sector finance manager, career civil servant and community development enthusiast, Victor Ibigoni Jumbo, PhD is now the 3rd Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Bonny Kingdom and District Society (BKDS).

His investiture was conducted by the 59th President of ICAN, Innocent Okwuosa, PhD, supported by the outgoing Chairman of ICAN BKDS, Matthew Pepple, and ICAN’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Ahmed Kumshe, at the Banquet Hall of NLNG Residential Area, Bonny.

Speaking before the inauguration, Dr Okwuosa called for Bonny Kingdom and District Society to be accorded a special status consistent with foreign districts, observing that Bonny Island has potentials for impacting national economy and investment prospects.

He also explained that grassroots mobilization was the motivation behind ICAN proliferating district societies countrywide, stressing that establishing district societies across the country affords citizens the opportunity to understand and align with the objectives of ICAN.

He further explained that the trend was to also give young people the opportunity to interact with professionals in the field and pursue careers in Accounting, noting that this has ensured the country never lacked professionals managing its financial sector.

“I want to remind us why we set up district societies. It is for grassroots mobilization. If we did not set up this district, we won’t be able to have this investiture and this royal district.”

“Looking at what the outgoing chairman has said, we can say these are some of the achievements coming from setting up district societies.”

He called for mainstreaming of oil and gas accounting with a view to expanding the scope of opportunities for ICAN members to practice in the oil and gas sector, expressing gratitude to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) and the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny for their support to ICAN in Bonny Island.

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Edward Pepple, who is a former Chairman of Bonny LGA, congratulated the new Chairman of the ICAN District, recalling that Dr Jumbo was one of the best aides he had the privilege of working with during his stint as Local Government chief executive.  

“Victor was doing well somewhere and I had to go and beg him to join our government and he did very well. I congratulate the new chairman of the royal district of ICAN.”

“We need accountants and lawyers to collaborate and make society function well. The accounting profession will generate the money we need to drive things and make society better.”

He also called on ICAN to facilitate forums for attracting investors to come explore investment opportunities in Bonny Island, pointing out that Tourism opportunities abound in the area and needs to be appropriated by the business community.

“Let me say this that Bonny needs what I call corporate handshakes. Very soon, we’re going to have a road that links up Bonny. We need investors that would come in and invest here; the tourism potentials of this place is huge.”  

In his acceptance speech, the newly investitured Chairman of the ICAN Bonny Kingdom and District Society, Dr Victor Jumbo expressed gratitude to his colleagues “for the trust and confidence reposed in us to serve you in this chairmanship year,” commending “all those who worked overtly and covertly to establish the BKDS”.

He stated that under his watch, the BKDS will “continue to pursue the actualization of the Mutual Cooperation Agreement with Tertiary Institutions (MCATI) scheme, Catch-Them-Young Programme, and Accounting Technician Scheme for West Africa (ATSWA), as well as “work with our parent body to ensure that an ATSWA exams centre is approved in Bonny Kingdom”.        

He further promised that to stimulate interest in the scheme, his administration will work with the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC) to “provide assurance for employment opportunities for holders of the Associate Accounting Certificate (AAT) Cetificates within our jurisdiction”.

““I thank the 59″ President of ICAN, Dr. Innocent Okwuosa, FCA, for finding time to grace and conduct this Investiture and Inauguration; I thank our patrons, those present and those not present, particularly, our Grand Patron, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, JP, CON, Perekule XI, Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom; and Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi FCA, who we call the Mummy the Royal District; she has been there for us from inception in 2021 and had continued to keep her doors open for us.”

He also inaugurated his Executive members which include Andrew Imolorhe; Vice Chairman, Vincent Nwakanma, General Secretary, Adekunle Adewale, Assistant General Secretary, Chidozie Iroanyna, Financial Secretary, Dr William Nwaoha, Technical Secretary, Esther Ndukauba, Treasurer, Abiodun Kasim, Social/Welfare Secretary, Alawari Owunabo, Membership Secretary, Matthew Waribo, Ex-Officio I, Dr Samuel Ekong, Ex-Officio II, Rufus Itoruowusi, Ex-Officio III, and Adaobu Mini-Philips, Ex-Officio 4 (SWAN).

In his Valedictory Speech, outgoing Chairman of ICAN BKDS, Matthew Pepple said he was grateful and fulfilled at the completion of his tenure, thanking his executive for “their unalloyed support towards making sure that we moved our district (the Royal District) to a greater height”.

He also extended his appreciation to the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, Nigeria LNG, and his wife for the various ways they supported ICAN BKDS under his watch, noting that during his time, ICAN BKDS ensured that secondary schools in Bonny LGA now have Accounting teachers, floated a tuition centre, Professional Insight Tutors, which enabled candidates in Bonny Island sit for the May Diet of the Institute’s examinations, aside other achievements.

In his Welcome Address, the Chairman of the Investiture Committee, Andrew Imolorhe, who was represented by Vincent Nwakanma, poured plaudits on the incoming Chairman, describing him as “a man of ethics and professionalism, expressing the hope that “this 3rd investiture ceremony marks yet another new dawn for the district as veteran leaders hand over the mantle of leadership to another set”.

He thanked the guests for being part of the ceremony, noting that their presence is an inspiration and encouragement to the ICAN family, informing that “we took time this morning to appreciate God for life by going to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny before embarking on this celebration”.      

“We thank you for having spared your valuable time to grace us with your august presence this evening. Your being here is a source of inspiration and encouragement to us all. We are indeed glad for making this day a memorable one.”

“This 3rd Investiture Ceremony marks yet another new dawn for the district as the veteran leaders hand over the mantle of leadership to another set. During this ceremony, responsibilities will be entrusted to the newly elected members who pledge to work in unison for the welfare of the district.”

Highlight of the event, which had in attendance, the Chancellor of the Bonny Gentlemen’s League, Sqd. Ldr. Olam Allwell-Brown (rtd.), and pioneer Chairman of ICAN BKDS, Dr Samuel Ekong, among others, was the presentation of awards to members of the outgoing Executive and other notable members of the ICAN BKDS and a Special Thanksgiving Service at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny.