Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, Osasere Okundaye, has opened up on how her journey with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria began at the age of 13 after she completed secondary school earlier than usual.
Okundaye spoke on Saturday during the monthly Power Must Change Hands programme held at the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in Magboro, Ogun State, where she shared the story behind her achievement.
The 16 year old was officially announced last Monday as Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who described her feat as a reflection of hard work, discipline, resilience and a strong commitment to excellence.
Speaking before the congregation, Okundaye said her parents advised her to begin writing the Institute’s Accounting Technicians Scheme examinations instead of waiting until she was old enough to gain admission into the university.
“I am 16 years old. I started this ICAN journey three years ago after finishing my secondary school early,” she said.
“My parents encouraged me to start writing the ICAN examinations through ATS instead of just waiting around until I got to the right age for university.”
She explained that the journey was not an easy one, especially because she did not study accounting while in secondary school.
“I wasn’t an accounting student in secondary school, so the exams, especially at the first level, proved very difficult, more difficult than they probably were for other people at the same level.
“But I had to put in extra effort, and with the grace of God, I was able to pass that first level. Ever since then, it has been a success,” she said.
Okundaye also recalled one of the toughest moments in the journey after failing one of her final papers last year, a setback she said forced her to sit for the examination again earlier this year.
“Last year, I failed one of my final papers, unfortunately, which I had to rewrite earlier this year in May,” she said.
“To the glory of God, I passed that examination, and now I can say that I am a qualified accountant of the institute at 16 years old.”
Her achievement comes a year after Temilola Blossom Arise, an 18 year old student of the University of Ilorin, passed the professional stage examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
