Author(s): Niyi S. Awotomilusi, Toluwalope Oluwadamilola Komolafe
Looking at the expectations of employers today on graduates of tertiary institutions and what is required of them to perform even at year zero experience, it is only safe to agree with the bulk of other researchers that accounting curricula needs a little bit of revamping given the considerable changes that has been constituting challenges in the economic sector, globalization, harmonization, IT developments and accounting practices at large. The objective of the research is to look into the place of soft skills in the university’s current curriculum, examine the relationship between job training and soft skills as well as ascertain the effect ABUAD has in the contribution of soft skills to accounting graduates in preparation for the future. This study made use of a quantitative research approach while employing a survey research method to electronically gather student’s opinion with regards to the objective of the study. A sample size of 214 students of 300 level, 400 level, post graduate students and 2020 alums of Department of Accounting ABUAD was used during the course of this study because of their internship or practical learning exposure while the link to the survey instrument containing closed ended questions was shared on their various WhatsApp groups in an effort to observe social distancing order of COVID-19 protocols. 119 responses were returned which is 56% of the sample size. Descriptive and inferential statistics was adopted for the analysis of data. Mean Scores and Standard Deviation were calculated to achieve the objectives of the study as findings revealed that the current curriculum of accounting in the university is relevant and provides soft skills for the future of accounting profession. Most of the respondents revealed that relationship exist between job training and soft skills acquisition in relations to the future of accounting profession and finally finding of the study showed that ABUAD moderately contributes to soft skills learning and the future of accounting profession in Nigeria. The study recommends that management of the institution should intensify efforts to monitoring the implementation of accounting curriculum in the institution in order to continue turning out best quality accounting graduates.