At 16, Osasere Okundaye Makes History as Nigeria’s Youngest Chartered Accountant

At an age where many teenagers are still trying to decide what they want to study at university, Osasere Okundaye has already achieved a professional milestone that usually takes years of education, examinations and experience.

At just 16 years old, Okundaye has become Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, after successfully completing the professional qualification process of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Her achievement was announced publicly on Monday, June 29, 2026, by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande.

The achievement also means that Okundaye has broken the previous national record held by Jonathan Adewale, who became Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant at 17 in 2022.

But behind the headline is a story that began much earlier than most people would expect.

Okundaye started her ICAN journey at 13, after completing secondary school earlier than usual. Rather than waiting until she reached the conventional age for university, her parents encouraged her to begin pursuing professional accounting examinations through ICAN's Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS)

Speaking during the Power Must Change Hands monthly programme at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries headquarters in Magboro, Ogun State, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Okundaye explained how her unusual journey began.

“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.

Her journey was not as easy as the final achievement might make it appear.

Okundaye revealed that she did not study accounting in secondary school, which made the early stages of the professional examinations particularly challenging for her. She explained that the first level was difficult and required her to put in additional effort to understand the subjects.

“I wasn’t an accounting student in secondary school, so the examinations, especially at the first level, proved more difficult for me than for other people at the same level,” she said. “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.”

There was also a point when her journey did not go according to plan.

Okundaye disclosed that she failed one of her final professional examination papers. Instead of allowing the setback to end her pursuit, she returned to the examination and successfully passed the paper in May 2026, eventually completing the qualification at 16.

That part of her story may be just as important as the record itself. Her achievement was not simply about being exceptionally young; it also involved dealing with failure and continuing despite it.

The news of her accomplishment attracted recognition from the Federal Government. In a statement issued on June 29, Youth Development Minister Ayodele Olawande congratulated Okundaye and described her achievement as evidence of what young Nigerians can accomplish through determination and discipline.

The minister added that her accomplishment was “a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.” He also praised her parents, teachers, mentors and others who supported her journey.

Olawande further described Okundaye as a “shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youth,” saying her story showed that young Nigerians could break barriers and set new records when given the right support.

Her achievement has also drawn attention to the possibility of young Nigerians beginning professional education earlier instead of following only the conventional route from secondary school to university and then into professional qualifications.

However, Okundaye's story should not simply be reduced to the number 16. Behind the record are years of preparation, parental support, difficult examinations and a willingness to try again after failure.

Her experience also offers an important reminder that academic success does not always follow a straight line. Failing one examination did not erase the work she had already put in, and it did not prevent her from eventually reaching her goal.

For a country with millions of young people navigating questions about education, careers and the future, Okundaye's achievement has naturally become a source of inspiration. It shows what can happen when ability is matched with discipline, encouragement and an opportunity to begin.

At 16, she has already earned a place in Nigeria's professional accounting history. But perhaps the most striking part of her story is that she started at 13, faced a difficult path, failed at one point, returned to the examination and continued until she achieved what she set out to do.

Her record may be about accounting, but the lesson extends far beyond it: being young does not necessarily mean being unprepared for big dreams.

TalkAfricang.com