“I failed, rewrote the paper and made it at 16’ — Meet Osasere Okundaye, Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant

ICAN record-breaker says discipline, faith and ATS route helped her beat four-year record

Osasere Okundaye, 16, is now Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant, after passing the final stage of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examination.

The feat was announced by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on 29 June via his X page.

Osasere broke the 4-year record previously held by Jonathan Adewale, who qualified at 17.

*—“I started early through ATS”—

Speaking during a visit to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) founder, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, Osasere said the journey began right after secondary school.

“I started this ICAN journey three years ago, after finishing secondary school early. My parents encouraged me to start taking the ICAN examinations through ATS instead of just waiting around until I reached the right age for university,” she said.

The Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS) is ICAN’s entry-level programme designed to prepare candidates for the full chartered qualification.

She added that not studying Accounting in secondary school made the early stages tougher.
“I wasn’t an accounting student in secondary school, so the examinations, especially at the first level, proved more difficult for me. I had to put in more effort, and with the grace of God, I was able to pass the first level. Ever since then, it has been success after success.”

—Failure, comeback and qualification—

Most ICAN members qualify after university. For Osasere, the road included a setback.

“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 said.

ICAN is Nigeria’s apex body for training, examining and certifying chartered accountants. The qualification requires candidates to pass multiple rigorous stages covering financial reporting, audit, tax, and business law.

—“Stepping stone to greater things” — MFM G.O.—

Dr. Olukoya celebrated her during the church visit, calling the achievement proof that diligence and faith can break barriers.

“This shall be the stepping stone to greater things in your life. May God who does wonders in your life continue. As you’ve started like this, blessings shall not depart from your life,” he declared.

He described her story as “a powerful testament to God’s faithfulness” and said it proves “everything can be accomplished through diligence, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”

“Her journey is an inspiration to young people everywhere, proving that with God’s grace, determination, and a clear vision, age is never a barrier to greatness. Congratulations, Osasere! We pray that this remarkable milestone will be the beginning of even greater accomplishments.”

—Why it matters—

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At 16, Osasere joins a very small group of teenagers globally to qualify as chartered accountants. Her success through the ATS route is also expected to encourage more young Nigerians to pursue professional certifications early, rather than wait until after university.