Meet Osasere Okundaye, Nigeria’s Youngest Chartered Accountant at 16

Osasere Okundaye has become one of Nigeria’s newest symbols of academic discipline after qualifying as the country’s youngest chartered accountant at the age of 16.

Her achievement places her ahead of the previous record reportedly held by Jonathan Adewale, who qualified as a chartered accountant at 17 in 2022. Okundaye’s story has drawn public attention because of her age, her unusual academic journey, and the resilience she showed after facing setbacks during her professional examination process.

How Osasere Okundaye Started Her ICAN Journey

Okundaye said her journey into the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria began three years ago, shortly after she finished secondary school early. Rather than wait until she was old enough for university admission, her parents encouraged her to begin through ICAN’s Accounting Technicians Scheme examinations.

Her path was not easy. According to her, she did not study accounting in secondary school, which made the early stage of the exams more difficult. She said she had to put in extra effort to pass the first level and continue through the process.

The Setback That Made the Story Stronger

One of the most striking parts of Okundaye’s story is that she did not have a perfect run. She revealed that she failed one of her final papers last year and had to rewrite it in May.

That detail makes the achievement more relatable. Her success was not only about brilliance. It was also about discipline, patience, family support and the ability to recover after failure. After rewriting the paper, she passed and became qualified as an accountant of the institute at 16.

Public Recognition for a Rare Achievement

Okundaye’s milestone gained wider public attention after she shared her testimony during the Power Must Change Hands monthly programme at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries headquarters in Magboro, Ogun State.

Daniel Olukoya, the founder and general overseer of MFM, publicly celebrated her achievement, describing it as a testimony of diligence, discipline and commitment to excellence. Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, also congratulated her, calling the milestone proof of hard work, resilience and excellence.

Why This Matters Beyond One Student

Okundaye’s achievement matters because it challenges the common timeline many young Nigerians are expected to follow. Her story shows that professional development does not always have to begin after university. With guidance, structure and discipline, young people can begin building serious career foundations earlier.

It also sends an important message to parents, schools and policymakers. Talent needs opportunity. Many gifted students may not reach their full potential because they are forced to wait, discouraged from advanced learning or denied access to career-building platforms early enough.

Expert View: A Big Lesson for Nigeria’s Education System

From an education and career development perspective, Okundaye’s achievement should not only be treated as a viral success story. It should also open a larger conversation about how Nigeria identifies, supports and accelerates gifted young people.

Professional bodies, schools and youth-focused institutions can create clearer pathways for exceptional students who are ready for advanced learning. Nigeria has many brilliant young people, but brilliance alone is not enough. It needs mentorship, examination access, family support and systems that reward early effort.

Okundaye’s success also shows the value of resilience. The fact that she failed a final paper and still returned to complete the process makes the story stronger than a simple record-breaking headline.