ICAN Presidents

See the complete list of all ICAN presidents. The current ICAN President (2025) is Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) was formerly known as the Association of Accountants of Nigeria. Between 1960 and 1965, the institution was known and referred to as the Association of Accountants of Nigeria.

This was changed in 1965 under the leadership of Frank Cuthbert Oladipo COKER, CFR, B.Com, FCA, to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Change from AAN to ICAN

Association of Accountants of Nigeria (AAN) was established in 1960, with Akintola Williams CBE, CFR (1960–62), and Frank Cuthbert Oladipo Coker CFR (1962–65) leading the body. Williams became the first Nigerian chartered accountant, while Coker would go on to guide the institute’s formal transition.

AAN evolved into the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) on 1 September 1965 under Coker’s presidential year.

ICAN Presidents

See the Complete list of Past Presidents of ICAN below

THE ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTANTS IN NIGERIA (THE FORERUNNER OF ICAN)

Name Tenure
Akintola WILLIAMS, CBE, CFR, B.Com., FCA (Deceased) 1960 – 62
Frank Cuthbert Oladipo COKER, CFR, B.Com., FCA (Deceased) 1962 – 65

 

THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA

Name Tenure
Frank Cuthbert Oladipo COKER, CFR, B.Com., FCA (Deceased) 1965 – 66
Ephraim Adekunle OSINDERO, (Otunba) MON, FCA (Deceased) 1966 – 67
Herbert William BOND, FCA (Deceased) 1967 – 68
Zacchaeus Oludayo OSOSANYA, FCA (Deceased) 1968 – 69
Alfred EHREN, FCA (Deceased) 1969 – 70
Felix Bankole CARDOSO, FCA (Deceased) 1970 – 71
Emmanuel Ayodele ODUKOYA, (Archdeacon), FCA, (Deceased) 1971 – 72
Musiliu Olaiya ANIBABA, (Chief), FCA (Deceased) 1972 – 73
Vincent Obajimi Adebisi OGUNBA, FCA, (Deceased) 1973 – 74
Julius Akinyokun OWOSENI, (Chief) FCA, (Deceased) 1974 – 75
Michael Adepoju ADEYEMO, (Prof.), M.Sc., (ECONS), FCA (Deceased) 1975 – 76
Cecil Oyeniyi Olurotimi OYEDIRAN, B.Sc., (ECONS),MFR, FCA 1976 – 77
Anthony Asuquo ANI, (Chief) MON, FCA 1977 – 78
Arthur Christopher Izuegbunam MBANEFO, (Amb. Chief) (Odu III) MFR, CON, FCA 1978 – 79
Joseph Akintunde Alaba ADEBAYO, (Prince), FCA 1979 – 80
John Adepoju BALOGUN (Sir), FCA (Deceased) 1980 – 81
Idris Onaolapo SULAIMON, (Alhaji), FCA (Deceased) 1981 – 82
Olusola FALEYE (Chief), FCA (Deceased) 1982 – 83
Dolanimi Babafemi Olabamidele OGUTUGA, FCA (Deceased) 1983 – 84
Johnson Kayode Osiyemi OSINAIKE, FCA (Deceased) 1984 – 85
Otunba Adedoyin Olayide OGUNDE, FCA, (Deceased) 1985 – 86
Samie Aremu, WILLIAMS, FCA (deceased) 1986 – 87
Johnson Olaobaju Olabisi OMIDIORA (Balogun), B.Sc., OON, FCA. (Deceased) 1987 – 88
Ebenezer Folorunsho OKE, (Chief) B.Sc., FCA (Deceased) 1988 – 89
HH. The Otunba Ayora (Dr.) Bola KUFORIJI-OLUBI, B.Sc, FCA, OON, MON, (Deceased) 1989 – 90
Michael Ayodeji ONI, B.Sc., FCA 1990 – 91
Cornelius Oladipupo Sunday OSENI, B.Sc., FCA (Deceased) 1991 – 92
Oluwole Alani ADEOSUN, (Chief) B.Sc. OON, FCA (Deceased) 1992 – 93
Ismaila USMAN, (Mallam), FCA 1993 – 94
Olutoyin Olusola OLAKUNRI, (Chief, Mrs.), OFR, FCA (Deceased) 1994 – 95
Simeon Olusola OGUNTIMEHIN, (Sir) OON, FCA 1995 – 96
Emmanuel Itoya IJEWERE, FCA (Deceased) 1996 – 97
Agnes Adenike ADENIRAN (Princess), FCA 1997 – 98
Dr. Sir Ike NWOKOLO OFR, KSC, CTA (UK), FCIT, FIMC, FBR, CA (SD), FCA (Deceased) 1998 – 99
Adeboye Olugboyega, BADEJO (Chief), FCA 1999 – 2000
Herbert Adewole AGBEBIYI (Sir) KJW, FCA 2000 – 2001
Ugochukwu Stephen NWANKWO (Chief), FCA. (Deceased) 2001 – 2002
Felix Kolawole BAJOMO (Chief), mni, FCA 2002 – 2003
Jaiye Kofolaran, RANDLE, (Bashorun), FCA 2003 – 2004
Ibironke Mojisola OSIYEMI (Mrs), FCA 2004 – 2005
Abdul Lateef Adebayo OWOYEMI (Alhaji, Otunba), FCA 2005 – 2006
Catherine Ginikanwa OKPAREKE, (Chief, Dr., Mrs.), B.A, MBA, D (Lit), MNIM, mni, FCA 2006 – 2007
Abiodun BABINGTON-ASHAYE, (Prince), FCA (Deceased) 2007 – 2008
Richard Uchechukwu UCHE, (Chief, Dr.), PhD, FCA 2008 – 2009
Elizabeth Omeresan ADEGITE, (Chief, Mrs), B.Sc., MBA, FCA 2009 – 2010
Sebastian Achulike OWUAMA (Major General) (rtd), B.Sc, FCA 2010 – 2011
Francis OJAIDE (Professor) MSc., PhD, OON, FCA 2011 – 2012
Doyin OWOLABI, B.Sc. (Econs.), MILR, FNIM, FCA 2012 – 2013
Alhaji Kabir Alkali MOHAMMED, mni, FCIS, CGMA, FCA 2013 – 2014
Chidi Onyeukwu AJAEGBU, FCS, MBF, Dip. (Polygraph), FCA 2014 – 2015
Otunba Samuel Olufemi DERU, FNIM, JP, FCA (Deceased) 2015 – 2016
Deacon Titus Alao SOETAN, FCA 2016 – 2017
Isma`ila Muhammadu ZAKARI (Mallam), mni, FBR, FCA 2017 – 2018
Razak JAIYEOLA (Alhaji), BSc, ACFE, CRISC, FCA 2018 – 2019
Nnamdi Anthony OKWUADIGBO (Mazi) BSc, FCA 2019 – 2020
Onome Joy ADEWUYI (Dame) BSc, MSc, FCIB, FCA 2020 – 2021
Mrs Comfort Olu EYITAYO, CFA, mni, FCA 2021 – 2022
Tijjani Musa Isa (Mallam) BSc, FCA 2022 – 2023
Innocent Iweka Okwuosa, PhD, FCA

Chief Davidson Chizuoke Stephen Alaribe

Mallam Haruna Nma Yahaya

2023-2024

2024-2025

2025-Present

 

The ICAN president heads the council and committee structure.  He/she is responsible for the policy direction and day-to-day oversight of the institute.

Source: icanig.org/ican/

Pioneering Female Leadership

Chief Olutoyin Olakunri (née Olusola), OFR, FCA, became the first female ICAN President (1994–95), notably Africa’s first female chartered accountant.

Presidents Turning National Figures

  • Anthony Ani, FCA, former KPMG chairman and later Minister of Finance (1994–98), served as ICAN President (date unspecified, mid-1990s).

  • Felix Kolawole Bajomo, FCA, served in 2002–03 before transitioning to public office as a senator.

Themes & Initiatives Through the Years

  • Professional standards: From AAN to ICAN, with rigorous exams and governance frameworks.

  • Gender inclusion: Milestone leadership by Chief Olakunri.

  • National influence: ICAN presidents transitioning to government roles.

  • Digital leap: AI, e-learning, and ICAN University pursued vigorously.

  • DIAMOND Era: Comprehensive agenda under Alaribe.

  • 61st Presidency: Digital deepening, district engagement, global linkages.

 

In sum, ICAN’s presidential lineage charts a gradual evolution—from nation-building pioneers and inclusion champions to digital trailblazers and globally oriented leaders. Under Mallam Yahaya’s tenure, expect further strides in tech-led transformation and international collaboration.

Recommended:

ICAN District Societies (2025 Directory)

ICAN Delisting, Suspension & Re-admission (A Comprehensive Guide 2025)

 

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