… State Auditor-General Unveils Her New Book “The Odyssey”
The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has identified an audit system driven by technology as a major requirement to achieve excellent service delivery in the 21st century.
Speaking at the 12th Annual Auditors’ retreat held recently in Ikeja, Muri-Okunola stated that the role of Auditors in developing a detailed audit management framework and managing internal control of finances makes it imperative that technology must be adapted to sustain and surpass the prevailing standard of their service delivery.
The Head of Service noted that the theme of the retreat, “Technological Advancement & the Future of Audit”, effectively reflects a clear understanding that Auditors, like other professional groups, must come to terms with emerging realities in the workplace occasioned by the challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
His words: “It is only through a conscious and deliberate commitment to a constant and rigorous review of the Audit function in the public sector that necessary and important procedural amendments can be made to address emerging realities and future challenges”.
He assured the body of Auditors of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to continuous capacity building of the workforce to raise thoroughbred professionals that are competent, versatile, and relevant to the present and future needs of the State.
In her remarks, the Lagos State Auditor-General, Mrs. Helen Deile, explained that technology has made it possible for Auditors around the globe to analyse a large amount of financial data, perform advanced analytics and use artificial intelligence to transform audit from a reactive and backward-looking exercise to proactive constant sources that will enhance decision making.
Mrs. Deile said, “Auditors in the State must continuously embrace technology, as auditing is gradually metamorphosing beyond the traditional audit to transforming underlying processes to achieve higher quality, more efficient, timely audit reports and creating a better business insight for clients amongst other benefits”.
The Auditor-General also expressed fulfillment in leaving behind a crop of Auditors adequately equipped to take on and surmount the challenges of the future, as she prepares to bow out of active service,
She also unveiled her book, ‘The Odyssey’, which chronicles the creation, challenges, transformation, innovation and achievements of her office from inception to date.
The book reviewer, Mrs. Modupe Akinwolemiwa, a former State Auditor-General, disclosed that no similar book had been written detailing the practice of the Office of the Audit institution in Nigeria.
While commending the painstaking effort, Mrs. Akinwolemiwa described the writer as a rugged trailblazer, noting that posterity would remember Mrs. Deile for the insightful contribution to the development of the audit institution.
Dignitaries present at the event include Pastor Laja Deile, former member, Lagos State Christian Pilgrims Board; Special Adviser, Office of Internal Audit, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi; Chairman, Audit Service Commission; Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adegbuyi-Onikoyi and Chairman, Lagos State University Governing Council, Mr. David Sunmoni among others.
