THE National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA) has been urged to continue broadening its scope, implement initiatives to serve as a model for African countries in promoting the accounting sector in the country.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Hamad Hassan Chande, made the call in Dar es Salaam over the weekend during the NBAA 46th graduation ceremony which saw 1,216 accountants being conferred with certificates, diploma and degrees completion credentials.

Chande pointed out that the number of qualified accountants in the country still falls short of the needs of the public sector, let alone the private sector, emphasising that NBAA has a responsibility to ensure its graduates acquire high-level skills to contribute effectively to the national economy.

He insisted that the country needs more accountants of the highest standards and morals who will stand firm in their profession and save public funds from embezzlement, urging graduates to protect the accounting profession's image before the public for working professionally and show people that they have graduated with competences and not by favour.

He further encouraged the graduates to establish private firms and adhere to legal procedures, while also promising on behalf of the government to support their efforts by creating a conducive business environment.

Pius Maneno, NBAA executive director said among the 1,216 graduates, 640 are women and 576 men, highlighting the significant contribution of the Ministry of Finance to the board, particularly in providing professional advice.

He noted that the board has been reviewing its policies and regulations, and in 2024, they implemented three subsidiary laws to manage key issues, including those related to applications and appeals.

Prof Sylvia Temu, NBAA governing board Chairperson announced plans to introduce a special online diploma to increase training opportunities for accounting professionals in the country.

She emphasized that integrity is a fundamental principle in the accounting profession, urging graduates to uphold ethics and expose wrongdoing when it arises.

She also advised the graduates to utilise opportunities available in the East Africa Community (EAC) and other parts of the world.

Prof Temu said that Tanzania has migrated to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) with the aim to support the governments towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation journey and ensure that private and public sector entities are reporting their contribution towards the implementation of the SDGs.