In recognition of the impact of the naira depreciation of the
affordability of its fees for Nigerian students, Global accounting body,
Association of Certified and Chartered Accountants (ACCA) has announced
60 percent reduction in registration fees for Nigerian students.
The reductions also include 50 percent reduction in first year subscription, and 50 percent reduction in exemption fees.
ACCA
Director, Market Transformation, Mr. Kevin Kernan, disclosed this while
addressing a press conference at the sidelines of the launch of ACCA
Strategic Pricing Initiative for Nigeria.
Kernan said that the
reduction in fees was in response to comments from stakeholders in the
wake of the impact of the naira depreciation on the affordability of
ACCA fees for Nigerian students.
He said, “ACCA has historically
has operated a single pricing strategy for all its customers around the
globe. But in Nigeria, after a lot of research and consultation with
stakeholders, from today, we are making some new prices for Nigerian
students exclusively. We recognise that affordability have been an issue
for many Nigerian students, particularly with the exchange rate
variations in recent times.
So we are reducing the initial
registration fee by 60 percent. We are reducing the first year
subscription fee for new students by 50 percent. Also many students
claim exemptions from our exams, so we are reducing exemption fees for
them by 50 percent. These represents significant reduction in prices
students, parents or their employers have to pay in order to start their
journey towards ACCA qualification.
“In order to avail
themselves of these new prices, the student must be resident in Nigeria.
So we consider this good news for all our stakeholders in the Nigerian
community.
The new pricing applies to students applying for the
foundation and main ACCA examination qualifications but it does not
apply to members or affiliates. The focus is on the student population.”
“This
is a very new venture for ACCA and we have been considering other
markets, but Nigeria is one of the first markets where we have done
this. We are currently studying Ghana, Zimbabwe. What we are offering in
Nigeria is very targeted and focused on the Nigerian students, with a
lot of consultations with the stakeholders.”
Also speaking on the
rationale for the reduction, Head of ACCA Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Ademola
said, “The new pricing initiative is about making ACCA more affordable
for Nigerians. It goes with ACCA values which are affordability
accessibility opportunities, innovation, and diversity.
“What is
driving this initiative is, having listened to our customers, one of the
challenges we find that our students have is affordability. So it is
not about competition, it is about us providing values to our students.
It is about accessibility and also giving them the opportunities at a
more affordable rate to get global qualification.
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