The New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) Limited has been honoured with the merit award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), describing the recognition as validation of its ongoing reform agenda and commitment to sound corporate governance, financial discipline, and transparency.

Receiving the ICAN Merit Award at a ceremony held in Lagos, on behalf of the company, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Malam Abdulkareem M. Sani, represented the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mallam Shehu Mai-Bornu.

A statement issued by the NNDC Head, Corporate Relations Department, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the honour showed that ICAN has recognised NNDC for its contribution to the accounting profession and to the wider community.

Mai-Bornu said NNDC was undergoing a deliberate process of strategic repositioning and transformation.

The statement said NNDC was strengthening governance systems, reviewing investment portfolio, improving operational discipline, and repositioning the company to play a more catalytic role in the development of owner-states.

Mai-Bornu added that the company was also placing renewed emphasis on accountability, professionalism, human capital development, and partnerships that deliver measurable impact.

According the statement, “We do not take this lightly, coming from an institution synonymous with professionalism, accountability, integrity, discipline, and excellence in financial stewardship.”

He added that for NNDC, the award was more than a plaque. “It is a reaffirmation of the values that have defined our journey for decades: service, development, accountability, and commitment to the socio-economic transformation of Northern Nigeria and Nigeria at large.”

The statement noted, “Since its establishment, NNDC has remained committed to promoting commercial and industrial development, supporting investment, nurturing enterprise, and building platforms that create value for shareholders and society. The Company recognizes that institutions are sustained not only by capital and assets, but by people, knowledge, governance, and professional discipline.

“NNDC and ICAN share a longstanding relationship anchored on integrity, competence, accountability, and capacity development. ICAN has produced accountants and financial leaders who have served with distinction across the public and private sectors. Many organizations, including NNDC, have benefited from the professional standards and ethical orientation ICAN promotes.

“A key area of this partnership is the Special Students Project (SSP). NNDC is proud to support this initiative, which aligns with its philosophy that the future of the region and the country depends on deliberate investment in people, skills, and institutions. Through the SSP, ICAN has gone beyond certification to make direct contributions to society by supporting students who represent the next generation of professionals.”

The statement added, “In furtherance of this objective, NNDC and ICAN have established SSP Centres in Kano, Gombe, Ilorin, and Kaduna. Collaborations are also underway with Katsina and Plateau States for additional centres in Katsina and Jos. These centres expand access to structured professional learning and create opportunities for young Nigerians to pursue careers in accountancy.

“The partnership has produced notable outcomes. Elijah Hope Tumba, from the NNDC-ICAN Centre in Kaduna, emerged as the winner of the ICAN Merit Award for 1st Overall Best Position in the Professional Level of the May 2021 Diet. She also received the SWAN Prize for Best Qualifying Female Candidate, the Akintola Williams Deloitte & Touche Prize for Best Qualifying Candidate, the Akintola Williams Deloitte & Co./Olushola Adekanola & Co. Prize for Advanced Taxation, and the Dame Onome Joy Adewumi Prize for Best Female Candidate”

“Linked to the SSP is the NNDC Musa Bello Learning Centre in Kaduna, established in 2007 to expand access to professional education and build human capital. The Centre has produced 1,776 Chartered Accountants since inception through its Young Professional Development Scheme (YPDS) and SSP across the four study centres in Northern Nigeria.”

“Through the Centre’s YPDS, NNDC offers also full scholarships for professional qualifications in stockbroking, insurance, and information technology. This reflects the Company’s conviction that development must be anchored on investment in people, skills, and professional excellence, not only on physical assets,” the statement said.