Mary-Fidelis Chidoziem Abiahu is the Director of the CIBN Centre for Financial Studies, where he leads strategic research initiatives, policy advocacy, and executive education programs of the Institute, aimed at enhancing the competencies of professionals in the banking and finance industry. Mr. Abiahu is a seasoned finance and accounting professional with over two decades of experience spanning academia, professional practice, and institutional leadership.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Abiahu served as Director of Finance and Corporate Services at CIBN, where he provided financial oversight and led strategic planning and compliance initiatives. He also previously held the position of Director, Research and Professional Standards at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), where he directed research, technical publications, and professional standards development and practice monitoring; and Senior Manager, Technical Services and Head of the Research & Technical Department at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where he led research initiatives, coordinated technical responses to regulatory bodies, Standard-Setting bodies and other PAOs, published professional materials, and supported strategic committees to advance the Institute’s policy and advocacy goals.
His academic and professional journey includes roles such as Academic Technologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Assistant Lecturer at Paul University, Audit Supervisor at Onyeogali Igho & Co., and Audit Senior at Tom Onyeagwa & Co., where he coordinated audit planning, supervised audit teams, ensured quality control, and managed client account computerisation and reporting. He has also managed professional tuition and consulting services through Edo-WYSE School of Professional Studies and Edo-WYSE Consulting Services.
Mr. Abiahu holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, a PGDE in Education and a Mini-MBA in Business Management from Tekedia Institute, Boston.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a Chartered Tax Practitioner (ACTI), a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (FTM), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (MCIB), and an Associate Chartered Economist (ACE), among other professional affiliations. He is also a Registered Professional with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).
Mr. Abiahu is widely published and actively engaged in academic and professional networks. His research contributions are accessible via platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, SSRN, ORCID, and Elsevier’s Web of Science.
