Response and coping patterns of Nigerian professional associations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a significant effect on professional associations’ ability to carry on their normal activities in forging professional competence among their members. We assess Nigerian professional accounting and finance associations’ response and coping pattern as well as readiness to sustain members’ professional competence in an emergency.
 Using a two-pronged approach, we reviewed activities – response and coping patterns – of professional associations in Nigeria. First, we crawl their online presence (websites and social media handles) for activities relating to initial and continuing professional development. Secondly, we administered a questionnaire to aspiring professionals and professionals to understand from an insider point of view the activities of their professional association in sustaining their professional competence.
 Aspiring professionals and professionals believe their professional associations can guide them through the pandemic and emerge stronger, however there are mild concerns. We also found that Zoom is the application of choice for virtual events among professionals in Nigeria.
 The paper provides evidence-based realities among the major accounting and finance-based professional associations, giving insight to inform policy and strategy going forward.