I had the great opportunity of attending the AccounTech Summit 2024, which took place on August 15, 2024, in the exciting city of Lagos, Nigeria. The theme of this year’s summit, “Emerging Technology in Accounting and Finance – a Game Changer,” could not have been more appropriate or timely. With over 500 attendees, including more than 200 in person and an equal number online, the event was a melting pot of ideas, innovation, and forward-thinking talks.
The summit was hosted by Ms. Toyin Olufon, the visionary founder of the Lefort Foundation and its affiliated educational and development bodies for financial professionals, including the Techy Accountant.
Toyin Olufon is also a Mandela Washington Fellow (MWF) Alumn who spent 6 weeks at the University of Notre Dame Summer 2023 receiving support for her organizations and initiatives.
Notre Dame’s program is about helping the Fellows further develop their “Focus Project”, which range in stages of development from an idea to those that are up and running (like Toyin’s), to enhance success and social impact-
Toyin and I were partnered together to further her ideas.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) program, now in its 10th year, is a highly selective initiative that annually chooses 700 African leaders from Sub-Saharan countries to participate in six-week programs hosted by various U.S. universities, each offering a distinct focus.
The University of Notre Dame has been a consistent partner since the program’s inception, participating through the Keough School for Global Affairs and its Pulte Institute in partnership with USAID.
I was honored to be one of three keynote speakers at the AccounTech Summit, where I spoke about “Adapting to the Digital Age: Transforming Accounting and Finance Education for the 21st Century.” I also had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion and a lively fireside chat on “Game Changers in the Nigeria/U.S. Financial Sectors” with industry leaders such as Dr. Stanley Jacob, CEO and Founder of Zest Payment Limited, and Victoria Ajayi, Group Managing Director and CEO of TVC Communications.
The summit was a spectacular success, receiving extensive and favorable media coverage, including an 8-minute television interview with Toyin before the Summit, and a 4-minute segment during prime-time news by TVC News, the leading media syndicate of stations in Nigeria.
For me? While it was an arduous journey, it was well worth it.
I learned SO much …. About technology advances and implications for accounting, finance, business and society.
One of the important takeaways was that many firms place a high value on data management and artificial intelligence. However, there is a considerable gap between this goal and the leadership’s understanding and financial support, indicating a critical divergence that must be addressed.
What impressed me the most was the summit attendees’ unique position in advancing technology, which was largely filled by young professionals. They will drive AI implementation and see the shift from the present to a future molded by these technologies. Their perspective is unique, and future generations will not share it. Based on my interactions during the summit, I’m certain that the future is in capable hands.
Overall, the AccounTech Summit 2024 was more than simply an event; it was a first of its kind melting pot of ideas, issues, and solutions that will certainly affect the future of accounting and finance in Nigeria and elsewhere. I’m happy for the opportunity to have been a part of this trip and eager to witness the impact of the conversations and networking that occurred.
Incase you could not be there, here is the link to watch the AccounTech Summit 2024.
