ICAN seals deal with Obio/Akpor LGA on war against generational poverty

Poverty is at the moment being handed from generation to generation in Nigeria, but a scheme to end this trend has been crafted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

This is the outcome of a meeting between the Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Obio/Akpor District and Society. The local government council is led by Gift Worlu, a management expert, while ICAN team was led by the chairman, Chioma Obianuju Ojukwu, an accounting lecturer.

Both ICAN and Obio/Akpor LGA resolved on Thursday, January 15, 2026 morning to deploy strategic knowledge and skills on wealth creation to empower the people of the local council area which is half of the Rivers State capital, hoping that other local councils in the state would adopt the model to end generational transfer of poverty.

ICAN Obio/Akpor District & Society led by Ojukwu had visited Obio/Akpor LGA boss to deliberate on a proposal to launch capacity building/training, internship/youth engagement, financial literacy campaign, professional advisory support, etc.

The LGA chairman however did not only accept the proposal but said he was set to begin a special poverty eradication scheme instead of sharing money to those regarded as the poor.

The LGA chairman, who was a Uniport Management lecturer (before contesting for LGA chairmanship position) regretted that most Nigerians have perfected the art of transferring poverty from generation to generation by doing the wrong things.

Quoting Warren Buffet and some other wealth creation proponents, Worlu rejected the practice of sharing money to the masses to buy popularity. “Even if I give you N1m, it will vanish in one week. What happens after that; will I continue to give you? Teaching people what to do, showing people how to create wealth and how to consolidate and hand over to the next generation is the best ideology. Handouts have never helped a people.”

He said ICAN’s proposition and visit were timely, promising to work with them to create wealth, manage wealth, train people, empower people, and create a generation that would be financially literate and would possess financial awareness to create wealth and transfer same to the next generation.

Earlier, Ojukwu told the host that as professionals trained in financial management, integrity and accountability, and as members of the foremost Institute established by the Act of Parliament of 1965, “We regulate the practice of the Accountancy profession in Nigeria for effective coordination of the social and professional activities in all sectors of the economy and we help to promote accounting education, enlightenment, and accounting practice.”

She went on: “Our District was inaugurated by ICAN National on February 2, 2025. The District was created to bring ICAN closer to her members and the members of the public within Obio/Akpor & its environs (the grassroots).”

She noted that the District was under the administrative jurisdiction of Obio/Akpor LGA authority and by this, the council was the host of such a large and powerful ICAN District.

She displayed various trophies the young District that has many tertiary institutions under it won in Abuja at an international conference where she said the name of Obio/Akpor was highly promoted and advertised because of the excellent performances of the delegates from ICAN Obio/Akpor District & Society.

ICAN tabled some proposals and requests. “We are delighted to engage constructively and to collaborate with your administration to foster quality accounting education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the LGA and its environs, promote financial literacy among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to grow their businesses, inform the general public about the Reforms of the Government (for example the New Tax Reforms) and promote general human capacity development, and socio-economic progress of the LGA, the state, and the nation at large.

“ICAN Obio/Akpor & District Society has organized highly impactful and well attended Quarterly Webinars/Luncheons, four of them in total. The Webinars have recorded an average of 250 participants each Session. The first Tax Reforms Webinar in September 2025 had over 300 participants in attendance.

“We have also carried out financial literacy/public sensitization programme around Choba, Alakahia and Rumuosi areas for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on Nov. 10th 2025 to mark International Accounting Day Celebration.”

Ojukwu went on to request for support of the Council to execute their first anniversary coming up in February 2026.