Osasere Okundaye has etched her name into Nigeria’s history books after qualifying as Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant at the age of 16.
Her remarkable achievement has attracted nationwide attention, with government officials, religious leaders, and Nigerians celebrating her determination, discipline, and commitment to excellence.
The teenager earned the prestigious qualification through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by Jonathan Adewale, who became a chartered accountant at 17.
Her success comes after a three-year journey that began shortly after she completed secondary school earlier than most of her peers.
How the Journey Began
Speaking during the Power Must Change Hands monthly programme at the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) in Magboro, Ogun State, Okundaye recounted how her parents encouraged her to begin pursuing a professional accounting qualification instead of waiting until she reached university admission age.
“I am 16 years old. I started this ICAN journey three years ago after finishing my secondary school early.
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 said.
She explained that she enrolled through ICAN’s Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS), despite not having studied accounting during her secondary education.
According to her, the lack of an accounting background made the early stages of the programme particularly demanding.
“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 added.
Her journey was not without setbacks. Last year, Okundaye failed one of her final examination papers, a challenge that could have discouraged many aspiring professionals.
However, she chose to persevere, rewriting the paper earlier this year and successfully passing it.
“Last year, I failed one of my final papers, unfortunately, which I had to rewrite earlier this year in May.
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,” she recalled.
National Recognition Follows Historic Achievement
The announcement of Okundaye’s qualification has drawn praise from prominent figures across the country.
The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Daniel Olukoya, celebrated the teenager during the church programme and later shared her testimony publicly.
Congratulating Okundaye, her family, and members of the church, Olukoya described her accomplishment as an example of God’s faithfulness, combined with diligence, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
He also prayed that the milestone would open the door to even greater achievements in her future.
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, also commended the young accountant, describing her accomplishment as an inspiration to Nigerian youths.
In his congratulatory message, the minister said, “This remarkable milestone is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
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By qualifying at just 16 years old, Okundaye has rewritten Nigeria’s record books and demonstrated that age is not necessarily a barrier to achieving professional excellence.
Her journey from an early secondary school graduate to Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant serves as an inspiring example of perseverance, focused preparation, and the impact of parental support.
Her achievement is expected to motivate many young Nigerians to pursue their academic and professional ambitions with determination, even when faced with challenges along the way.
