The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), in its 27th Annual General Meeting and Handover Ceremony, on the 30th April, 2009, investitured its First Female President.
Click here to download Acceptance Speech
The new and First Female President of the Association, Chief (Mrs.) Francess Iyamide Gafar, is the 7th President of the Association. Amidst pomp and pageantry, the celebration held in the Nigerian College of Accountancy (Training arm of the Association), permanent site in Kwall, Bassa LGA, Plateua State, had a large turnout of members of the Association.
Chief Mrs. Iyamide Francess Gafar was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone some 60 years ago to Mr. Colin Ayodele and Mrs. Gladys Macaulay; both late. Her father from the famous Macaulay family of Lagos had settled in Freetown after completing his secondary school education there, she is the eldest of three children, two girls and a boy. She had her primary and secondary education in Freetown, Sierra Leone before moving to Lagos for her University education as an African American Institute scholar. At the University of Lagos , she studied Accountancy and came out with a Second Class Lower Division in Accountancy in 1973.
On leaving the University, she joined the Lagos State Government as Accountant Grade II. She was in service with the Lagos State Government till 1995 when she retired as the Accountant-General of the State. During her stay with the Lagos State Government, she worked in various ministries/Department, including Accountant-General’s Office; Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operative; office of the Deputy Governor; Ministry of Works and Ministry of Health. While in service, she served in various Committees and Panels. Amongst these are, Federation Account Allocation committee; Joint Local Government Account Allocation Committee; Committee on Standardization of Accounts in the Federation; Compilation of Accounting Manuals in Lagos State Committee; Committee on Decentralization of Accounts in Lagos State; Identification of Additional Sources of Revenue in Lagos State; Committee on Floating of Revenue Bonds for New Town Development Authority (NTDA); Committee on Floating of Eko International Bank, now Skye Bank, Preparation of Procedural Manuals for Self Accounting in Lagos State and Self Accounting Implementation Committee.
She has attended various course, workshops and seminars which include Advanced Financial Management Course (ASCON), Women in Development (ASCON), Computer Fraud, Computer Appreciation of Senior Management, Seminar on insurance for Directors of Finance and Supply, Developing High Performance Team Manager’s Skills, Financial Control and Accountability for Governance, Value Added Tax and the Organized Private Sector, Family Financial Planning, Corporate Financial Reporting Summit, Public Procurement Reform Stakeholders Summit to mention but a few.
She has also performed the duties of Returning Officer in Local Government, State and National Elections. Has acted as Consultant to Civil Service Commission and ASCON. She was Chair-Person, Family Support Programme, OJo Local Government Chapter 1994 to 1996.
She is Patron, National Council of Women Society; Patron, Nigerian Red Cross; Patron Nigerian Girls Guide; Patron Igbehin Adun School for Deaf, Dumb and Mentally Retarded Children. She is also a member of Family Sisters Club Annie Walsh Memorial School Old Girls Association and member and Past President, Inner Wheel Club of Satellite Town, in Lagos.
She is married to Chief Mukaila Babatunde Gafar, a founding father of the Association with Membership number 008 and they are blessed with beautiful children and lovely grand children.
For her enviable role in the development of Lagos State, she was honoured with two Chieftaincy titles, Yeye Arolagboye of Lagos and Yeye Asoju-Oba of Imore and Apapa also in Lagos in quick succession in December 1995 and March, 1996 respectively.
A Jerusalem Pilgrim, her hobbies are reading, decorating and traveling. Chief Mrs. Iyamide Francess Gafar became member of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in 1993 with Membership number 529. She became a member of Council in 1994. She has served the following committees of the Association.
• Publicity, Workshop and Conference Committee
• Finance and General Purpose Committee
• Public Sector Committee
• Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD)
• Membership Committee
• Fund Raising Committee
• Building Committee
• Investigation Panel
• Disciplinary Tribunal
She also represents the Association on the NASB Steering Committee on Intangible Assets. She was nominated to Council in 1994 and became Treasurer 2005 to 2006.
She was nominated 2nd Vice President in April 2006 and 1st Vice President in April 2007.