At just 16 years old, Osasere Okundaye has shattered a national record by becoming the youngest person in Nigeria to earn a chartered accountancy qualification through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande celebrated the achievement on Monday, calling it proof of what hard work, discipline, and resilience can accomplish.
He described Okundaye as “a shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youth” and said her feat should push other young Nigerians to dream bigger and stay the course.
The minister also credited the people behind the scenes — her parents, teachers, and mentors — saying their belief in her and the sacrifices they made were central to her success.
He used the moment to reaffirm his ministry’s commitment to building pathways that help young Nigerians grow their talents and reach their full potential.
Okundaye’s qualification breaks a record set in 2022 by Jonathan Adewale, who was 17 when he became the then-youngest chartered accountant in the country.
The ICAN certification is considered one of the most demanding professional qualifications in Nigeria, one that typically takes graduates and seasoned professionals years of intensive study to obtain, making her accomplishment at 16 all the more striking.
