Osasere Okundaye, recently recognised as Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, has shared the story of how she began pursuing a professional accounting qualification at just 13 years old after completing secondary school ahead of schedule.
Gatekeepers News reports that the 16-year-old spoke during the monthly Power Must Change Hands programme at the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in Magboro, Ogun State, where she reflected on the determination and sacrifices that led to her record-breaking achievement.
Her feat was officially announced earlier in the week and drew commendation from the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who described her accomplishment as proof that dedication, resilience and discipline can produce extraordinary results at a young age.
Speaking to the congregation, Okundaye explained that rather than waiting to become eligible for university admission, her parents encouraged her to enrol in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria’s Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS), allowing her to begin writing professional examinations much earlier.
She admitted the journey was far from easy, noting that she had no accounting background in secondary school, making the early stages of the examinations particularly demanding. Despite the challenge, she said consistent hard work and faith helped her overcome the difficulties.
Okundaye also disclosed that she suffered a major setback after failing one of her final papers last year. Instead of abandoning her dream, she prepared for the resit, passed the examination in May, and successfully qualified as a chartered accountant at the age of 16.
Her achievement comes about a year after Temilola Blossom Arise, an 18-year-old student of the University of Ilorin, earned recognition for passing ICAN’s professional stage examination.
