Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, 16-year-old Osasere Okundaye, has narrated how she began her journey to professional success at the age of 13 after completing her secondary school education ahead of her peers.
Okundaye, who recently made history as the country’s youngest chartered accountant, said her parents encouraged her to pursue the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria’s Accounting Technicians Scheme rather than remain idle while awaiting university admission.
She shared her story on Saturday during the Power Must Change Hands monthly programme held at the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in Magboro, Ogun State.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the teenager was earlier announced as Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, drawing commendations from the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.
The minister described the achievement as a reflection of hard work, discipline, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Recounting her experience, Okundaye said the journey was far from easy because she had not studied accounting during her secondary school education.
“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 admitted that adapting to accounting was initially difficult, especially during the first stage of the professional examinations.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The young accountant also revealed that her journey was not without setbacks, disclosing that she failed one of her final professional papers last year.
Rather than abandon her dream, she rewrote the paper during the May 2026 diet and passed.
“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 barely a year after 18-year-old Temilola Blossom Arise, a student of the University of Ilorin, made headlines for passing the professional stage examination of ICAN.
Okundaye’s record has since been celebrated as an inspiration to young Nigerians, with education stakeholders describing her success as proof that determination, discipline and early preparation can produce extraordinary results.
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