Two African members were recognised at ACCA’s Global Public Sector Advocacy Awards for 2024. The awards recognise members from around the world who have positively impacted society through their role as advocates for ACCA and the accountancy profession more broadly.
Adaora Ndukwe-Ugwu FCCA is the regional winner for Africa and was awarded ‘highly commended’ in the global competition. ‘Adaora’s deep knowledge of the public-sector landscape and her strong relationships have been pivotal in driving our success in Nigeria’s public-sector space over the past 18 months,’ says Tom Isibor, head of ACCA Nigeria, who endorsed her nomination.
‘I understood that ACCA was the right qualification for my aspirations’
Skills boost
Promotion of both the ACCA brand and its qualification have been priorities for Adaora, who is head of investment management at the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). She connected the head of ACCA Nigeria with NMDPRA’s CEO and management team to help them understand how the ACCA qualification could boost the skills of the authority’s finance team. Additionally, she has encouraged colleagues to study for ACCA or renew ACCA journeys they had previously suspended.
As a result of Adaora’s advocacy, the NMDPRA has committed to using ACCA courses and online learning resources for employee development and capacity building. It is also aiming to become an ACCA Approved Employer. ‘By promoting ACCA, my hope is that the next generation of accountants will be not only technically proficient but also committed to the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct,’ she explains.
Capacity builder
In early 2024, Adaora accompanied ACCA chief executive Helen Brand to meetings during her visit to Nigeria. In a discussion with the vice president of Nigeria, Adaora praised ACCA for its capacity-building training on topics including public financial management reforms, sustainability and innovation, leading to more training being undertaken. To date, nearly 600 attendees across five states have benefited from ACCA’s training, which has helped to improve public-sector financial management in Nigeria.
‘For me, ACCA has been a gift that keeps on giving’
Adaora was inspired to pursue the ACCA qualification by her university professor while she was studying accounting and financial management in England. ‘It has opened doors to new opportunities and advanced my career significantly,’ she says. ‘I knew early on that I wanted to work internationally, and I understood that ACCA was the right qualification for my aspirations.’
Receiving an award for her advocacy work was both humbling and a pleasant surprise for Adaora, who values her strong connection with ACCA. ‘For me, ACCA has been a gift that keeps on giving,’ she explains. ‘I’m proud to be part of the ACCA global family and I advocate for ACCA because I’m proud.’
‘The ACCA values – especially integrity – are key for me as an employee in the public sector’
When asked to sum up her contribution to ACCA in Nigeria, Adaora says she is ‘advancing sustainability and strong financial governance, as well as fostering ethical leadership in Nigeria’s public sector’.
Advocating for integrity
Christine Nthiga FCCA, principal accounting standards officer for Kenya’s Public Sector Accounting Standards Board, won the Eastern Africa heat of the awards. Passionate about ethics, Christine identifies strongly with ACCA’s emphasis on ethical practices.
‘The ACCA values – especially integrity – are key for me as an employee in the public sector,’ she says. ‘They always come first as I make tough decisions on any contentious issues that may compromise my integrity.’
Christine has played a pivotal role in connecting ACCA with both her current organisation and her previous employer, Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. As a result of these connections, ACCA is due to sign memoranda of understanding with both bodies.
‘The networks and opportunities in ACCA make me proud to be a member’
Christine is a ‘super connector’, according to George Njari, ACCA’s head of Eastern Africa, who endorsed her nomination. ‘She is also an active member of the ACCA Kenya Members’ Advisory Committee and leads the sub-committee for the public sector.’
Industry engagement
Alongside her relationship-building activities, Christine has played an active role in promoting ethics and engaging with industry debates. She spoke at an ACCA webinar on ethics for a better world, aimed at public-sector members in the Eastern Africa community, and has also participated in roundtables on public financial management reforms.
As well as supporting ACCA events, Christine is an enthusiastic mentor of current and future students. ‘It’s a way of giving back to my profession,’ she says, ‘and ensuring that I share the vast knowledge I’ve gained from being an ACCA member.’
‘You don’t have to do very big things to make a difference’
In her day job, Christine responds to exposure drafts and consultation papers issued by the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board. She also helps to prepare simplified guidelines for new standards issued by the board for use by Kenyan public-sector accountants. ‘We ensure that financial reporting in the public sector is done uniformly,’ she explains.
Christine was encouraged to become a professional accountant by her father, who advised her to seek out a global qualification that would give her a competitive advantage in the job market. ‘That definitely had to be ACCA,’ she says. ‘Since then, I have never looked back. The networks and opportunities in ACCA make me proud to be a member.’
Being recognised for her advocacy work is important to Christine because it ‘inspires me to do even better and do more’. She also hopes her success will encourage other members to become advocates themselves. ‘You don’t have to do very big things,’ she explains. ‘Small things matter, and they can make a difference.’
Become an advocate
Every day, ACCA members can act as advocates – for the accountancy profession in general and for ACCA-qualified accountants in particular.
Entering awards is just one advocacy route. Showing public support can take various forms –speaking at conferences or at school career fairs, forwarding information to colleagues or clients, sharing a post on social media.
Find out more about the benefits of becoming an advocate, and additional resources.
