Many of the governance problems facing both the public and private sectors for years have been attributed to lack of skilled auditors and other technical staff.

To help address this challenge, the Institute of Internal Auditors Rwanda is organising training programmes to help members continuously sharpen their skills and enhance performance and corporate governance.

One such programme was held last week, where Obadiah Biraro, the Auditor General, urged members to undergo periodic training so that they can offer clients and employers better and professional services.

The institute’s annual seminar, in Kigali, brought together internal auditors from public and private institutions.

While opening the seminar, Biraro reminded the auditors that their mandate in any institution is able to "take up or break down”.

Therefore, you need to be well-equipped, a reason why you should be constantly eager to acquire new competences to provide clients and your employers services that ensure value-for-money, Biraro said.

"If you want to grow as auditors, you must acquire additional skills, apart from basic university degree. Continuous training sharpens your skills, enabling you to do your job well,” he said at the seminar.

The seminar discussed different issues, including capacity building and ethical conduct by members. The Auditor General urged them to take advantage of opportunities provided by the institute and government to acquire new skills, saying, "We want people who know what they are doing and can provide solutions for any problems in areas, like reporting, risk assessment and management, among others.”

Biraro urged the participants to observe the profession’s code of ethics, saying integrity, discipline and other values lay a strong foundation for auditors, especially if they are to avoid any bad influences or making wrong judgment.

Currently, the government facilitates public accountants and internal auditors to study and obtain certification in professional courses, such as Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Certified Public Accountants (CPA), and Chartered Internal Auditors (CIA), in the medium-term. There are also other courses, like the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Diploma (IPSAS), and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) certificate.

However, Alex Kamuhire, the chief internal auditor, said the internal auditors are taking that opportunity for granted and most have little interest to learn and improve themselves, noting that only two candidates had finished the CIA programme over the past three years.

Kamuhire urged auditors to take advantage of such free training opportunities to acquire new skills.

On the other hand, Gerald Nyangezi, the president of the Institute of Internal Auditors Rwanda, observed that in most other careers there are platforms where people come together to learn and evaluate themselves.

"Currently, internal auditors do not have such an opportunity, which has left many in isolation.

In other EAC countries they have forums, where internal auditors can meet, interact and gain more skills. This is what we are aspiring for, but we need to work together for the benefit of the profession and individual members.”

Nyangezi said the institute has 80 members so far, adding that they will carry out mobilisation to be able to attract more members.

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