Leadership within the accounting profession is rarely measured by titles alone. It is earned through years of technical excellence, unwavering integrity, professional service and a commitment to strengthening the institutions that uphold public trust. For Tosin Akinwunmi, FCA, FCTI, these qualities have defined a career spanning nearly two decades and culminated in his emergence as the second Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Surulere & District Society.
His inauguration on June 20, 2026, was more than a ceremonial handover of leadership. It represented the beginning of a new chapter for one of ICAN’s most vibrant district societies and another milestone in the career of an accounting professional whose journey has been built on discipline, excellence and service.
The investiture ceremony drew a distinguished gathering of leaders from Nigeria’s accounting and financial services community. Among those in attendance were the 62nd President of ICAN and Chairman of Council, Hajia Queensley Sofuratu Seghosime, MSc, mni, FCA, members of the Institute’s Presidency and Governing Council, the Registrar and Chief Executive of ICAN, as well as past and present chairmen of district societies from across the country.
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Adding to the significance of the occasion was the presence of the 14th President and first female President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Dr. Fiona Ahmed Ahimie, FCS, who served as the Special Guest of Honour, underscoring the growing collaboration among Nigeria’s leading professional bodies.
For Akinwunmi, however, the appointment represents far more than personal achievement. It is the culmination of years of dedicated service to the accounting profession and a renewed commitment to advancing professional excellence.
Describing the appointment as a call to greater responsibility, he acknowledged that his leadership would be judged not by promises but by measurable impact.
He pledged that the newly inaugurated executive committee would work collectively to position the Surulere & District Society among the most respected and impactful ICAN district societies, both within Nigeria and internationally.
That ambition is rooted in a professional philosophy centred on integrity, transparency, accountability and service principles that have consistently shaped his career.
With more than 19 years of experience across financial reporting, auditing, taxation, internal control, corporate governance and enterprise risk management, Akinwunmi represents a new generation of finance leaders whose expertise extends beyond traditional accounting into strategic business leadership.
His professional credentials reflect that breadth of experience. A Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), he has earned recognition for combining technical competence with strategic thinking, analytical rigour and organisational leadership.
Yet perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of his journey is his unwavering commitment to academic excellence.
Long before becoming a finance executive, Akinwunmi distinguished himself as an exceptional student. He graduated with distinctions at both the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, emerging as the overall best graduating student in both programmes.
He went on to obtain a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Babcock University, before earning a Master’s Degree in Accounting from the same institution, further reinforcing a lifelong commitment to continuous learning and professional development. His career trajectory mirrors that same pursuit of excellence.
He began in professional practice, where he built strong foundations in auditing, taxation and financial advisory. Rising through the ranks, he became Audit Manager at Ola Ajala & Co. (Chartered Accountants) before taking on the role of Tax Manager at A. A. Dina & Co. (Chartered Accountants).
Those early years equipped him with deep technical expertise and an appreciation for governance, regulatory compliance and financial stewardship—skills that would prove invaluable in later leadership positions.
Akinwunmi subsequently transitioned into the banking sector, where he broadened his experience in internal control, enterprise risk management and corporate governance.
At Fidelity Bank Plc, he served as Internal Control Team Lead before overseeing the Risk Management Unit for the South-West Region. He also managed the bank’s Customer Complaints Unit, reporting directly to executive management on issues relating to excess bank charges and customer protection, responsibilities that required not only financial expertise but sound judgement and ethical leadership.
His banking experience expanded further during his tenure in the Internal Audit Department of United Bank for Africa (UBA), where he strengthened his knowledge of operational risk, compliance and internal controls within one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.
Rather than limiting his career to financial services, Akinwunmi deliberately diversified his experience across multiple sectors.
He later served as Finance Manager at Channels Television, one of Nigeria’s foremost broadcast organisations, before assuming the position of Head of Finance and Administration at SWAgCo Limited, where he played a key role in strengthening financial management and corporate administration.
Returning briefly to professional practice as an Associate Partner at Adeniji Agboola & Co. (Chartered Accountants), he continued advising businesses on accounting, taxation and governance before assuming his current role as Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of FETS Limited, where he now provides strategic financial leadership, corporate planning and business performance oversight.
This unique blend of experience across public practice, banking, media and corporate leadership has given Akinwunmi an uncommon perspective on the evolving role of finance professionals.
Modern accountants are no longer confined to preparing financial statements or ensuring regulatory compliance. They increasingly serve as strategic advisers, risk managers, governance champions and architects of sustainable business growth.
That broader understanding is expected to shape his leadership of the Surulere & District Society.
As businesses confront rapid technological change, increasingly complex regulatory environments, sustainability reporting requirements and rising expectations around corporate governance, professional accounting bodies have become more important than ever in equipping members with the skills needed for the future.
For Akinwunmi, the task extends beyond administering a district society. It is about strengthening professional capacity, promoting ethical conduct, encouraging lifelong learning and creating greater opportunities for younger accountants to develop into business leaders.
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His leadership also comes at a time when Nigeria’s accounting profession continues to play a critical role in supporting economic development through financial transparency, investor confidence and stronger corporate governance.
Professional accountants remain central to the integrity of financial reporting across both the public and private sectors, helping organisations manage risk, improve accountability and build sustainable institutions.
These responsibilities place significant expectations on leaders within professional bodies such as ICAN. Those who have worked closely with Akinwunmi describe him as a leader who values collaboration, meticulous planning and continuous improvement, qualities that have defined his career across every institution he has served.
As he begins his tenure as Chairman of the ICAN Surulere & District Society, his vision reflects those same values: to build a stronger professional community, enhance member engagement, uphold the highest ethical standards and position the district society among the most respected within the Institute.
Ultimately, his story is one of preparation meeting opportunity.
From graduating at the top of his class to leading finance functions across multiple industries and now chairing one of ICAN’s leading district societies, Akinwunmi’s journey demonstrates that lasting leadership is built through consistency, competence and character.
For the accounting profession, his emergence represents not only a change in leadership but also a renewed commitment to the principles upon which the profession has always stood—integrity, accountability, excellence and service.
