Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on women accountants across Nigeria to take a stronger stand against waste, misappropriation, and mismanagement of public funds. He warned that unchecked financial recklessness is worsening poverty and unemployment nationwide.
Obi made the remarks on Wednesday in Lagos, where he served as the guest speaker at the investiture of Mrs. Blessing Ngozi Osakwe as the 12th President of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN).
“I charge the group, as a body of accountants, to intervene and halt the waste, misappropriation, and mismanagement of scarce resources, which continue to increase poverty and mass unemployment in Nigeria,” Obi stated.
Drawing from his experience in banking and governance, Obi emphasized the pivotal role of women in maintaining financial discipline.
“As a bank chairman, I worked with a female risk manager who consistently ensured the right procedures were followed to prevent financial pitfalls. Similarly, during my tenure as governor, I had two female Accountant-Generals and a female Commissioner for Finance, who guided me in upholding proper financial practices,” he noted.
He urged SWAN to empower members nationwide to hold political office holders accountable, insisting that unchecked fiscal recklessness must not be tolerated.
“Stand up to political office holders. This financial recklessness must be stopped, especially now that we are borrowing and spending away the future of our children. A New Nigeria is possible,” Obi declared.
Just a day earlier, Obi reiterated his warnings on Nigeria’s rising debt profile, stressing the urgent need for fiscal responsibility. He clarified that borrowing is not inherently bad, but must be tied to productivity.
“There’s nothing wrong with borrowing; what matters is ensuring that every loan translates into real, measurable productivity. Borrowing without directing it to critical areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and poverty reduction will only deepen economic decline,” he said.
Obi’s consistent advocacy highlights his push for financial discipline, responsible borrowing, and transparency. He underscored that professionals—especially women accountants—have a vital role to play in steering Nigeria towards a sustainable and accountable economic future.
