In continuation of its mission to promote intellectual advancement and foster interdisciplinary collaboration, Miva Open University is pleased to announce the June edition of its University Series Seminar. This esteemed platform remains a cornerstone of the institution’s strategic efforts to integrate academic engagement across diverse fields of study. By convening scholars, professionals, and students, the seminar aims to facilitate critical discourse, stimulate innovative thinking, and reinforce a vibrant academic culture. As we convene for this month’s session, the University reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the dissemination of knowledge and the enhancement of scholarly interaction within and beyond its academic community.

For June 2025, here are the details of the discourse:

• Date: Friday, 27th June, 2025
  
  
• Time: 4:00 PM (WAT)
  
  
• Host: Prof. Tayo Arulogun, Vice Chancellor, Miva Open University
  
  
• Speaker: Dr Iheanyi Anyahara (currently the Chief Executive Officer, Regulatory Compliance Readiness Advisors Ltd.)
  
  
• Topic: Sustainability Reporting Frameworks: Landscape of Confusion.
  
  
• Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/MivaDiscourseReg
  

Here are a few things to expect in this academic discourse: 

• Introduction to Sustainability Reporting: What is sustainability reporting? Why is it important for businesses, governments, and the public? How it helps organisations communicate their impact on the environment, society, and governance (ESG).
  
  
• Overview of Key Reporting Frameworks: You’ll learn about the different major frameworks that companies use, such as:
  – GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)
  – SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)
  – TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures)
  – (IR) Integrated Reporting.
  
  These frameworks will be compared to show how they differ in focus, structure, and goals.
  
  
• Understanding the “Landscape of Confusion”: Why do so many frameworks exist? How do they overlap or contradict each other? Why is it difficult for organisations to choose the “right” one? How does this confusion affect businesses, investors, and regulators?
  
  
• Real-World Challenges: Companies are spending a lot of time and money trying to meet different reporting standards. Some organisations may report only what makes them look good (greenwashing). Investors and the public sometimes can’t trust or compare what’s reported.
  
  
• Global Efforts to Fix the Problem: Introduction to new attempts to harmonize or combine standards (e.g. ISSB). How some governments and regions (like the EU) are creating unified rules. The importance of global cooperation for clarity and fairness.
  
  
• Academic and Policy Perspectives: What scholars say about the current situation. How researchers can help bring clarity. The role of universities in training future sustainability experts.
  
  
• Practical Insights and Recommendations: Tips for organisations on how to approach sustainability reporting. Suggestions for building more transparent and useful reporting systems. How to avoid common mistakes and focus on real impact.

About the Speaker

Dr. Iheanyi Anyahara is a renowned expert in financial reporting, accounting standards, and sustainability reporting and regulatory practices, with over 30 years of extensive experience in the field. Dr. Anyahara is former Coordinating Director and Head of the Directorates of Accounting Standards (Public and Private Sectors) and Sustainability Reporting at the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) of Nigeria. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer, Regulatory Compliance Readiness Advisors Ltd. Dr. Anyahara’s career is marked by his instrumental role in enhancing corporate reporting practices and contributing to Nigeria’s adoption of international standards such as the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) accounting and sustainability standards, as well as the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

From March 2020 to May 2021, Dr. Anyahara served as the Acting Executive Secretary and CEO of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, where he provided strategic leadership and guidance to the organisation. Under his leadership, he advanced the integration of corporate governance, anti-money laundering practices, audit regulation and sustainability reporting into Nigeria’s regulatory framework. A pivotal aspect of Dr. Anyahara’s work is his dedication to promoting sustainability reporting in Nigeria. He has chaired the Adoption Readiness Working Group for Sustainability Reporting, leading initiatives aimed at aligning Nigeria’s corporate and public sector reporting with global best practices. Iheanyi Odinakachi Anyahara is a passionate advocate for credible corporate reporting and a strong voice for accountability and integrity in financial disclosures across the public and private sectors. With a solid background in regulatory oversight and financial reporting, he leads initiatives that promote transparency, sustainability, and good governance.


As a key figure at Regulatory Compliance Readiness Advisors Ltd, he works closely with Institutions such as the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) to strengthen national frameworks for financial integrity and sustainability assurance. He is actively involved in capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and policy dialogue with parliamentarians, heads of key government agencies, and the accounting profession. Iheanyi’s expertise spans across: Accounting regulation, including accounting standards in public, private and not for-profit sectors; Sustainability assurance, including implementation of ISSA 5000; Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR); Public financial management, especially around budget execution and accountability mechanisms; High-level advocacy for high-quality corporate reporting as a catalyst for national development.

Dr. Anyahara is a key advocate for the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics in corporate reporting, ensuring that Nigerian entities incorporate sustainability factors in their reporting. His contributions in this area include his membership in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the National Chart of Accounts for Nigeria and the IPSAS GAP Analysis Committee. His influence extends internationally, with his recent appointment in January 2024 as the Technical Advisor to Yacouba Traoré at the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB), along with his involvement with the International Assurance and Auditing Standards Board (IAASB) and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) Stakeholders Advisory Council.

Academically, Dr. Anyahara holds a first-class honors degree and an M.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an MBA from the University of Port Harcourt, and a PhD in Accounting from Babcock University, Ogun State. He has also pursued executive education at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School and the London School of Economics. His academic rigor is matched by his membership in several professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Management of Nigeria, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and the Association of Forensic Accounting Researchers. He is committed to ensuring that corporate reporting serves the public interest and supports economic transformation through reliable, ethical, and transparent disclosure practices and has sixteen publications to his credit.