The Audit Committee of the Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE), has organized a Workshop on “Entrenching sound corporate governance in the operational and strategic functions of the University and Governing Council in particular”.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kolawole Salako said that Auditors were bound by the ethics of their profession to tell the truth at all times, adding that whether Auditors compromise or not, they are always targeted.
The Vice-Chancellor who was highly impressed that CEADESE provided an opportunity of training for the Audit Committee, noted that “When you get the knowledge, you give back”.
He, charged members of the Committee to give back to others whatever knowledge they were able to gather from the Workshop, stating that members should also avail themselves of the current financial regulations for guidance in their day to day activities.
According to him, the attendees of the Workshop should enlighten those under them on quality assurance as well as monitoring and evaluation of financial transactions.
Professor Salako stressed that effective Audit Committee enables the Council and Management to add value in an effective, efficient and consistent manner, saying that Effective Audit Committee must appreciate their duties in areas of internal control.
Earlier in his Address, the Director, CEADESE, Professor Olukayode Akinyemi stated that the Centre had established specialised programmes in the areas of sustainable development, manpower training and financial management.
He further explained that, the objective of CEADESE was to strengthen human and material capacity for agricultural development, noting that the action plan for research programme consisted of partnering with regional and international centres to conduct postgraduate students’ research that are demand-driven and would lead to regional development.
Shedding more light on the Workshop, the Chairman, CEADESE Audit Committee, Professor Clement Adeofun appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for being physically present at the Workshop, stating that every Centre of Excellence is expected to have an Audit Committee.
He said part of the duties of the Committee was to make appropriate recommendations to the University Governing Council through the Management, noting that most of CEADESE’s activities are statutory.
Meanwhile, the Workshop sought to increase participant’s understanding of the scope, functions, responsibilities and accountabilities of the Audit Committee; apprehend the oversight role of an Audit Committee; differentiate and compare between Audit Committee roles and the roles of other oversight entities (Internal Auditors, External Auditors and Regulators); develop further skills in relating with internal and external Auditors; understand risks arising from advancement in IT and how these expose the University.
The Workshop had in attendance, the Bursar, Mr. Chukwunwike Ezepkeazu; Dean, Postgraduate School, Professor Wilfred Alegbeleye; Director, Internal Audit, Mr. Olafisayo Amubode and the Secretary, CEADESE Audit Committee, Mr. Sunday Dada as well as external Facilitators, Olawale Wale-Awe and Dare Omeshebi from Sage Education Limited.
