On Monday, 21st October 2024, Landmark University, under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Kolawole Ajanaku, hosted Mr. Oluseye Denton, Business Development Manager of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), to discuss a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the employability of the University’s accounting graduates. This collaboration seeks to provide Landmark University’s students with valuable resources, practical experience, and professional certification opportunities that will prepare them more comprehensively for the workforce.

In his presentation to the university’s management, Mr. Denton emphasized that AICPA & CIMA, as globally recognized professional bodies, uphold standards of public accounting, ethics, and accountability while offering extensive career opportunities in accounting, finance, public auditing, and compliance. The proposed partnership, he noted, would provide Landmark University’s accounting students with access to a wealth of resources from both professional bodies to aid in their certification journey, with benefits extending to postgraduate students and university staff.

Mr. Denton also highlighted that aligning Landmark University’s curriculum with CIMA standards could result in more exemptions for students pursuing certification. Additionally, he mentioned plans for CIMA-approved partners to deliver specialized training and development sessions for lecturers, focusing on emerging trends in the accounting profession.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ajanaku underscored the university's commitment to capacity building, one of its seven core values. He highlighted Landmark University’s recent achievement of ranking as Nigeria’s second-best university in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings as a validation to this commitment. He noted the enthusiasm of the students for opportunities that enhance their skills and prepare them for successful careers.

Registrar Engr. Adebayo Ajala echoed the value of early professional certification for students, noting how it could set them apart in their future careers. 

The Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences, Professor Joseph Taiwo, commended AICPA & CIMA for their role in fostering academic and professional excellence in accounting and finance, calling for collaboration to help realize the partnership’s objectives.

Adding to this, the Head of the Department of Accounting Dr. Olufemi Oladipo, and the Coordinator of the Landmark University Professional Accounting Centre (LPAC), Professor Ben-Caleb Egbide expressed their support for the partnership, recognizing its potential to elevate the university's accounting programme and its broader impact on Landmark University’s reputation.

Following the meeting, AICPA & CIMA hosted the preliminary round of the CGMA Business Leader Challenge at Landmark University’s International Conference Centre. Five teams of students from Accounting, Business Administration and Economics competed, with VISIONARY-TITANS emerging as the winners with an impressive score of 83%, qualifying them for the regional competition. Other teams included STRATEGY-VANGUARDS with 78.1%, SYNERGY-CATALYSTS with 73.9%, BIZ-INNOVATORS with 63.8%, and DE-TRAILBLAZERS with 61.9%.

This promising partnership between Landmark University and AICPA & CIMA is expected to bring significant value to Landmark’s students and faculty, offering enriched training and a pathway to professional success in the global accounting and finance sectors.

The Landmark University management team with the AICPA & CIMA officials in a group photograph

Team VISIONARY-TITANS who won the preliminary round of the CGMA Business Leader Challenge

The Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Professor Kolawole Ajanaku during the meeting

The Business Development Manager of the AICPA & CIMA, Mr. Oluseye Denton introducing the association to the students during the competition

The Coordinator of the Landmark University Professional Accounting Centre (LPAC), Professor Ben-Caleb Egbide speaking at the preliminary round of the CGMA Business Leader Challenge

Team VISIONARY-TITANS in a group photograph with the ACIPA & CIMA official, the sponsors of the challenge and the LPAC coordinator

Team TRAIL BLAZER

Team SYNERGY CATALYSTS

Team BIZ INNOVATORS 

Team STRATEGY VANGUARD

A cross-section of student audience at the event

The ACIPA & CIMA official, the LPAC coordinator and all the teams in a group photograph

A group photograph after the preliminary round of the CGMA Business Leader Challenge