Mrs. Hauwa Umar, FCA, is a distinguished chartered accountant and finance professional whose career spans over two decades of service in accounting, auditing, financial management, capital-market operations and corporate governance. Over the years, she has built a reputation for professional integrity, sound financial judgment and a commitment to accountability and institutional excellence.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mrs. Hauwa combines extensive technical expertise with practical leadership experience across the telecommunications, international trading, capital-market and energy sectors. Her professional journey reflects a steady progression through roles of increasing responsibility, giving her a broad understanding of financial operations, internal control systems, regulatory compliance and organisational management.

Her career began in October 2003 when she joined Nigerian Mobile Telecommunications Limited (M-Tel) as an Internal Auditor. During her seven years with the organisation, she conducted internal audits across operational and financial functions, assessed compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements, and made recommendations to management on audit findings and control improvements. This experience laid a solid foundation for her subsequent career in financial management and business leadership.

In October 2010, Mrs. Umar joined Vina International Limited as Branch Manager, a position she held until June 2021. In this capacity, she was responsible for the management of branch operations, including finance, administration and customer relations. She supervised accounting records, internal controls and management reporting while driving operational efficiency, staff supervision and service delivery. Her years in this role strengthened her experience in business administration, financial oversight and the management of people and organisational resources.

Hauwa subsequently expanded her professional involvement into the Nigerian capital market. From July 2021 to 2024, she served as Northern Representative of Heritage Capital Market Limited, representing the firm’s operations across Northern Nigeria. Her responsibilities included engaging clients on investment products, market advisory and regulatory compliance, as well as supporting brokerage and dealer operations in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nigerian Exchange and FMDQ.

Her experience in financial oversight and governance has also taken her into board-level responsibilities. Since 2021, she has served as an Audit Committee Member of quoted companies operating in Nigeria’s oil and gas, banking and power sectors. In this capacity, she contributes to independent oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, risk management and external audit processes. She also reviews statutory financial statements and audit findings in line with International Financial Reporting Standards, Nigerian regulatory requirements and recognised corporate governance practices.

These responsibilities demonstrate her commitment to strengthening accountability, promoting sound risk management and supporting transparency in corporate financial affairs. Her combination of audit experience, operational management and capital-market knowledge provides a valuable perspective on the governance challenges facing organisations in different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Mrs. Hauwa Umar’s professional development is underpinned by a strong academic background. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Bayero University, Kano, where she also obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with honours in Accounting. Her professional credentials are complemented by specialised training in risk management for oil and gas companies, audit committee effectiveness, sustainability reporting and corporate governance. Among these programmes are training courses delivered by GLOMACS Training & Consultancy in Houston, Texas; ICAEW Chartered Accountants in London; Whitehall Place in London; and Euromoney Learning in London.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Hauwa remains actively involved in professional leadership and the development of the accounting profession. She served as the Immediate Past Chairperson of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), Kano Chapter, from 2024 – April 2026. She also contributes to the activities of several ICAN committees, including the Students’ Affairs Committee, Inter-Governmental Committee, Annual Accountants’ Conference Committee and Mandatory Continuing Professional Development programme. In addition, she participates in the ICAN Northern Senior Members’ Forum and various district and society activities in Kano and Jigawa.

Her sustained involvement in these professional bodies reflects an interest in strengthening the accounting profession, promoting continuous learning and supporting institutional development. Through these engagements, she contributes to a professional environment in which ethical standards, competence and accountability remain central to practice.

Mrs. Hauwa Umar’s career is characterised by a blend of technical proficiency, managerial experience, independent judgment and professional service. From internal auditing and branch management to capital-market representation and audit committee oversight, she has developed a career centred on financial discipline, regulatory compliance and responsible organisational leadership.

It is in recognition of her Sterling Accomplishments in Accounting and Financial Management in Nigeria that Mrs. Hauwa Umar is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Woman of Merit Gold Award.