ACCA fellows, members honour Minister Oyedele for service, professionalism

Isibor expressed appreciation to the guests, wishing everyone success and acknowledging the value of their presence and support.

He noted that the occasion required sacrifice, especially as it coincided with a significant celebration, the Easter. He expressed gratitude to all for their commitment and participation.

He then took a moment to recognise members of his team and other contributors to the event, highlighting those who had travelled long distances to attend. He appreciated their dedication and called for applause in recognition of their efforts.

The minister, while speaking at the event, narrated how is background shaped his commitment to serve humanity wherever he found himself.

He recollected how he worked in farm to fund his education and later in life pledged to himself to assist those in need.

 “I think as professionals, we must always be willing and ready to serve. For those of us who have the opportunity to serve our country, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to ensure that we give our best.

“ACCA is one of those professional organisations where values such as integrity and accountability are strongly emphasised. During previous assignments, many people were surprised to see me constantly explaining decisions and actions, but that is what accountability requires. People may not always agree with you, but you have a duty to explain your actions because it is public service.

“Overall, I feel happy and grateful to everyone who attended this event and for the kind words. However, I take it as a challenge to do even more.

“There are high expectations, especially given what is happening globally and within the country. The task ahead appears enormous—what should we expect?

“Public service is never easy because it involves managing multiple stakeholders and dealing with factors beyond your control. For instance, global conflicts and geopolitical developments can have direct consequences, even when we have no influence over them.

“In such situations, the responsibility of government is to assess the data, determine appropriate interventions, and respond swiftly while ensuring sustainability. It is also important to learn from each crisis so that we are better prepared for future challenges.

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“Recent events have shown that crises can emerge unexpectedly, and while we hope to avoid them, they are inevitable. The key is to strengthen preparedness and work collaboratively within government to respond effectively when they occur.”

He also highlighted the need for greater participation in national development, noting that building a better country requires collective effort. According to him, no nation can develop without the active involvement of its citizens, particularly those equipped with the capacity to drive change.

The Chairperson of the Nigerian Advisory Committee for ACCA in Nigeria, Rashidat Adebisi, said considering the challenges facing the country, one thing members of ACCA can assure themselves is that they have been trained with strong ethical foundations.

“We are clear about what is important. Making a difference means identifying challenges, finding solutions, and collaborating to implement them. What Taiwo Oyedele has demonstrated over time, from being a partner in a firm to working on tax committee, he has the ability to identify and solve problems at high scale.

“And that is exactly what the country needs—to solve problems at scale. There will be challenges, and we expect that. But we are also focused on the opportunities to make meaningful impact.”

“The track record is important, and he speaks for itself. Of course, this role requires operating at a higher level, but we are confident in his capacity. He has our full support—the entire ACCA community, not just in Nigeria but globally—stands behind him to ensure success,” she said.