There is a common saying that spells “look before you leap” which presupposes the need for critical evaluation before embarking on any activity. It is quite unfortunate that we revolve in a society where we tend to follow the bandwagon of the joneses as the English will call it. The hunch is not being part of a thing, but being part of a relevant and recognized thing, this brings us to the discourse of today; the unquenchable appetite for the accumulation of certificates, in lieu to these; can economics as a discipline go ‘chartered’ even though it is not a professional course? Well that is a food for thought.
The institute of chartered economists of Nigeria (ICEN) is a professional body set up by a group of persons who just want to be pioneers of a work-in progress, without properly evaluating both sides of the coin. I, for a good number of reasons disagree intoto with the idea behind the conception, formation and operation of the body. It is axiomatic to say that the ICEN has little or no industrial acceptance in our small but growth-potential economy unlike other professional bodies namely; ICAN, CIBN, CISA, ACA, CIMA, NIMN, SAP, and the like. It is simply because economics as a course of study is developmental in curricular and as such relatively research-oriented than courses in management sciences especially accounting. Accounting for instance is a basic industrial application required for use in any company or organization. Designed in a way that people from different areas of study can be part of it, same applies to management generally. Besides who accepts ICEN in the Nigerian labour market and beyond, unlike other professional bodies highlighted above. the Nigerian economic society (NES) is the body charged with the responsibility of regulating the practice of economics in Nigeria, other similar bodies include the Nigerian society of engineers(NSE),Nigerian medical association(NMA),Nigerian institute of statisticians(NIS),COREN and a host of others too numerous to mention. so if one aspires to becomes recognized locally and internationally in the practice of economics, then he/she must have a first degree in economics, possibly a second degree so as to be accepted as a life member of the NES. there are other professional bodies that ensures that the relevance of economists and economics is made consistent, they are: African econometric society(AES),African economic research consortium(AERC), Nigerian institute of social and economic research(NISER), Centre for econometric and applied research(CEAR), African institute of applied economics(AIAE) and so on.
One cannot be regarded as a true economist if he/she does not contribute in the policy making, prescription and implementation process either in the private or public sector or both, and that can only be possible through and research which has a direct impact on development, with these and much more, you will agree with me that as a professional in the area of accounting and management, you don’t need to comply by the aforementioned. a click away from the present will usher in an era of complete craze for setting up unnecessary professional bodies, and then who knows, mathematics, statistics, physics, industrial chemistry, microbiology, political science, psychology, sociology, geography, engineering and agricultural sciences to mention a few will go ‘chartered’
My sincere advice to the pioneers, inducted members, students and prospective students is that the name chartered is not just a nomenclature, but denotes something of a kind, as a matter of fact and transparency, the ICEN should cease its operation, and beg for forgiveness. the time has come for the truth to be told amid the circumstances.

Redfox