16-year-old Osasere Okundaye, recently recognised as Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, has shared the inspiring story behind her remarkable achievement, revealing that her journey was marked by determination, resilience and an early setback.
Speaking during a testimony at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Okundaye recounted how she failed one of her final professional examination papers before eventually qualifying as a chartered accountant.
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A video of her testimony, which has gained traction on social media, also showed the moment she met with the General Overseer of MFM, Daniel Olukoya, who celebrated her achievement alongside members of her family.
In a message shared on his social media platforms, Olukoya described Okundaye’s success as a testament to God’s faithfulness and the rewards of diligence, discipline and perseverance.
“Today, we celebrate with one of our own, Osasere Okundaye, as she shares the inspiring testimony of becoming Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant at just 16 years old. This extraordinary achievement stands as a powerful testament to God’s faithfulness and what can be accomplished through diligence, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” he wrote.
Addressing the congregation, Okundaye explained that she began preparing for the examinations three years ago after completing secondary school at an unusually young age.
According to her, rather than waiting until she reached the conventional university admission age, her parents encouraged her to enrol in the Accounting Technicians Scheme (ATS), a pathway that eventually led to the professional examinations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
“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 waiting around till I get to the right age for university,” she said.
She admitted that the journey was challenging, particularly because she had no prior background in accounting.
“The exam at the first level proved very difficult, more difficult than it was for others at the same level. I had to put in extra effort, and with the grace of God, I was able to pass that first level,” she recalled.
Okundaye said her biggest setback came during the final stage of the examinations when she failed one of the papers.
“Last year, I failed one of my final papers, which I had to rewrite earlier this year in May. To the glory of God, I passed, and now I can say that I am a qualified accountant of the institute at 16 years old,” she said.
Her story has drawn widespread admiration on social media, with many praising her resilience, determination and refusal to allow a temporary failure derail her ambition.