DIRECTOR GENERAL/CEO MESSAGE
Message & Greetings from the Founder/Group Director General/CEO of ICEN
(DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY Professor Balogun Christopher Ominyofe FCE+, FCDipl, Ph.D. FBQS).
Greetings to you all!
Establishing the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria in 1998 was a great success for me as the Founder, along with my initial officers. Not so much was ever known by the then Economists in Africa from the days of the independence of Nigeria till the establishment of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria in 2002 and that of Ghana in 2007. Not a single academic or technical person ever thought that the studies of economics, as a field of study, could be treated like other professions: talk more of being pondered like others, such as:
1. The Accountants,
2. Management,
3 . Taxation,
4. Computer science,
5. Engineering and
6. Business Administration, to mention but a few.
By the grace of God, I single-handedly came up with the vision and mission of emancipating the economics profession from the shackles of death to the level we are today in Africa and the entire globe.
The Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria was the first professional Economists Institute in the entire world, followed by the establishment of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Ghana in 2007, after several applications to the various authorities in Ghana, seeking and pleading with the government for a kind approval for its formation. But today, we have finally secured its approvals, both for registration and incorporation. My interest in economics and her total emancipation from the slavers opened the eyes of many nations and countries’ entirety to the great need for Chartered Economists.
In Nigeria alone, we have several institutes in the field of economics that transmit our overall aims and objectives to their local websites without editing them. Copy master without permission from the original author or writer. They have no vision, mission/or goals. In Ghana today, we have them, too, transmitting our overall aims and objectives to their local websites, with no prior permission sought either. In the United States of America, we also have professional economic institutions, but ICENigeria and ICEGhana are the key to them all.
Today, ICENigeria and ICEGhana have gained national and international approval in Nigeria, with approval Registration No. NG/TM/O.2022/67881 and F/TM/0/2022/58119, respectively, to operate as a National and International Institute of Chartered Economists in Nigeria and beyond. This is no other but the Finger of the Almighty God. I remain the sole owner of both Institutes and no one else. Anybody parading himself/herself as a founder/or co-founder of both institutes should be requested to produce or present all the institute’s documentation to the general public for verification, just as I have them here, in my possession. All the original documents.
All information about ICENigeria was verified and published in the Journal of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment in Nigeria for the entire world to read. For more information about ICENigeria, click www.icennig,org.ng, while our official emails are: contact@icennig.org.ng and icennig.org@gmail.com.
Our mode of payment is 100% online. No cash payment is accepted in any of our office locations nationwide. The Institute decided to utilize a Paystack Platform or direct payment as the only medium or online payment for all fees like:
i.Applications
ii. Registration fees
iii . Examinations fees
iv. Yearly subscriptions
v.Workshops and Seminars fees
vi. Local and International conferences and
vii. Several others.
PURPOSE OF ICEN
We must all understand that ICEN was never established to milk Nigerians of their hard-earned income but to bridge the gap between the Accountants and the Economists. We are here to bring economists out of the classroom setting to the field of professionals who are involved in technical research and other economic interests. Going by the vision of this government to the people of Nigerians, Tagged Renew Hope, I am still very certain that a better Nigeria is possible under this administration of PBAT. I want to appeal to Nigerians that they should not lose hope, as easily as rebuilding a collapsed house is not as easy as destroying a standing building. The decay of many years is what we are seeing on the ground today. For our encouragement as professional Chartered Economists, keep faith, for the good of Nigeria is not too far from now. With the promise of a better Nigeria free from corruption, it is obvious that the best team the present government can work with to achieve all of these is you, The Chartered Economists.
We, therefore, urge our members to get up and do things that will promote the good image of the ICEN and the Nigerian government. This is the time the nation needs you and me. In ICEN, I can assure you that Nigeria would be free from all the economic quagmires if you, the Chartered Economists, were involved in its leadership and decision-making.
DEFEND YOUR ICEN
Dear esteemed members,
I call upon each of you to champion our institute, the ICEN, wherever you find yourselves. Whether at the market, in the office, or on the bustling streets of Nigeria, stand firm in defense of the ICEN. Among other associations and professional institutions, let our voices rise in support of this great organization. On campus and beyond, in government offices and private businesses, always advocate for the ICEN.
Every encounter is an opportunity to defend and promote our institute. Even when alone, introduce the ICEN to someone new—because if you do not advocate for it, who will? I assure you that, as your fellow member and advocate, I will dedicate myself to elevating the ICEN to unparalleled heights in our profession. This is not a time for division; this is our moment to elevate economists as the guiding force for our nation and the world.
Join us and align yourself with the victorious team of the ICEN Board of Governors, as we thrive under the inspirational leadership of our dedicated President, Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Okolo, FCE, DBA. Ignore any naysayers who claim that the ICEN is not legitimate. After all, we are the original professional body for economists, founded in 1998, and we have proudly grown for 26 years here in Nigeria. We will remain steadfast, undeterred, and fully committed!
EXPECTATIONS AND HOPE FROM EVERY MEMBER
The expectation of the Board of Regent of the ICEN from you, the newly inducted class December 2024 qualifiers are:
i.To play a better role in all governments if allowed.
ii. Show your professional prowess by supporting the government in achieving its economic forecasts.
iii. To provide the needed solutions to the myriads of economic quagmires confronting the country.
iv . To reach out to the government in the best way you can to improve the various economic policy formulations.
v.To work with various government departments in Nigeria by acting as economic consultants and advisers.
vi . Involve seriously in pure research and investigation to improve the mass’s welfare.
vii . To assist the EFCC and ICPC in money laundering matters if found or aware of in your operational circles.
viii . Building a bridge around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration and the governors of our states economically and criticize when necessary and not by fighting the government on the pages of papers and Social Media.
ix. To assist the unemployed ICEN members with jobs when the opportunity arises or is vacant in your establishment or place of engagement.
Permit me at this juncture to conclude by appealing to all members to join hands with us to make the study of Economics in our Regions and countries a great one. ‘All hands-on board approach’ is needed to secure more opportunities for our members both in government and otherwise. It would be nice to inform us that we now have a registered College for both institutes in Nigeria to train candidates/students for our professional examinations- The ‘Access Advanced College of Economics’ Incorporated Private Economics University.
Our official website and email are www.aace.org.ng, while our email is advancedcollegeecons@gmail.com. More so, we have produced numerous books in Economics for our education. Avail yourself the opportunities of having a few, if not all, in your private or College library. Below are the available ones with prices:
1. Understanding Educational Statistics
2 . Understanding Monetary Economics
3 . Understanding International Economics
4. Economic Planning and Development
5. Understanding The Components of Econometrics
6. A Practical Approach To Mathematical Economics
7. Practical Approach to Statistical Methods
8. A Practical Approach To Mathematical Economics
9 . Understanding Educational Research Methodology
10. Understanding Financial Economics
11 . Understanding Monetary Economics
12. Understanding Managerial Economics
13 . Understanding the Fundamental of Integrated Micro-Macroeconomics theory
14. Understanding Business Mathematics
To mention but a few…..
Membership into the INSTITUTE is fourfold and not five (5), as demonstrated by some plagiarizers. Our pattern is like every other world professional Association, taking, for example, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, England and Wales, and that of Nigeria and Ghana. The stages are:
1.Student Membership(Junior Executive Economist-JEE)
2. Associate Chartered Economist (ACE)
3 . Fellow Chartered Economist (FCE)
4. Corporate Membership (for organizations’ only.)
The yearly subscription is as follows:
1. Student Membership N2,500.00
2 . Associate Chartered Economist N15,000.00
3 . Fellow Chartered Economist N20,000.00
4 . Corporate Membership N50,000.00
Beware of fake Promoters of Economists Institutes, beware of plagiarizers, and beware of fake individuals in another name (s). If not ICEN, it can’t be ICEN!
Thanks and God bless you all.
Distinguished University Professor Balogun O. Christopher FCE+, FCDipl, Ph.D.
Group Director General/CEO