Accountans Not Mere Bookkeepers, Says Ogunjimi
By Patience Ikpeme
The traditional perception of accountants as simple bookkeepers is obsolete in the modern era of digital innovation and data-driven decision-making, according to Dr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi, the Accountant-General of the Federation and Chairman of the Association of Accountant-Generals of Africa (AOFAG).
Speaking at the Africa Accountant-Generals Conference in Accra, Ghana, Dr. Ogunjimi presented a compelling vision of the contemporary accountant as a strategic leader.
He stated that the role now stretches far beyond maintaining financial records, positioning accountants as strategic partners who shape the economic future of institutions and nations.
“Accountants are leaders. Our work is not simply to balance books; it is to balance the needs of today with the dreams of tomorrow,” the Accountant-General said, according to a statement issued by Bawa Mokwa, Director of the Press Office of the OAGF.
Dr. Ogunjimi explained that modern accountants serve as strategic advisors, champions of transparency, and custodians of integrity. He noted that they now play vital roles in strategic planning, risk management, financial forecasting, and navigating complex regulatory standards, urging them to remain at the forefront of strategic financial leadership.
He connected the work of public sector accountants directly to citizen welfare, stressing that the decisions made by accountants directly affect millions of lives.
Ogunjimi made clear that “every Cedi, Franc, Naira, or Dollar entrusted to public officers must ultimately translate into the prosperity of the people.” He concluded his address by calling on accountants across Africa to perceive themselves not merely as administrative officers but as catalysts for economic growth and national transformation.
The conference, which gathered leading accounting professionals and government officials from across the continent, also featured renowned African economist and entrepreneur, Mr. Tony Elumelu. Mr. Elumelu acknowledged the importance of the gathering, participating not only as an entrepreneur but as a “strong believer in Africa’s immense potential.”
Mr. Elumelu turned the spotlight on the need for deeper public–private sector collaboration to drive sustainable economic transformation on the continent. He identified Africa’s greatest obstacle not as a lack of resources, but as a deficit of trust, integrity, and credibility.
“Trust is built through predictability, transparency, and partnership. Trust is the currency of capital,” Mr. Elumelu declared. He maintained that “Excellence in public finance is not a luxury—it is a necessity.”
He appealed to African accountants to remain vanguards of transformation, especially in advancing digitalization and strengthening accountability across public financial systems.
