How Osasere Okundaye’s achievement reveals why access to education matters more than ever.
When 16-year-old Osasere Okundaye became Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant after qualifying through ICAN, she didn’t just surpass the previous record set in 2022 by Jonathan Adewale, who became a chartered accountant at the age of 17; she reminded us what becomes possible when talent meets opportunity.
Her achievement, recognised by the Federal Government and celebrated nationwide, is a powerful testament to discipline, resilience, and the value of investing in education.
But while everyone applauds the result, there’s another conversation we need to have.
How many more Osaseres never get the opportunity?
Talent is evenly distributed. Opportunity isn’t.
Across Nigeria are thousands of brilliant young people with the intelligence, curiosity and work ethic to excel.
Some dream of becoming accountants. Others aspire to be doctors, engineers, architects, lawyers, data scientists or entrepreneurs.
Yet for many of them, the greatest obstacle isn’t capability. It’s affordability.
Professional certifications, school tuition, examination fees and learning resources continue to become more expensive every year.
Sometimes, the difference between potential and success is simply whether someone can afford to pay.
The cost of waiting
Many professionals postpone certification because they cannot afford the upfront fees.
Students defer admission. Parents struggle to keep children in school. Dreams are delayed, not because ambition is lacking, but because finances don’t align with opportunity.
Unfortunately, talent doesn’t pause while people save money.
Every delayed opportunity represents lost innovation, reduced productivity and unrealised potential.
Education shouldn’t be a privilege for the few
At Edubanc, we believe education is one of the highest-return investments anyone can make.
Whether it’s K-12 tuition, university, an MBA, ICAN, ACCA, PMP, CFA, or other professional certifications, access to education shouldn’t depend solely on immediate cash flow.
Financial flexibility allows people to pursue opportunities when they arise, not years later when the moment has passed.
Because timing matters.
Behind every success story is a support system
Osasere’s achievement didn’t happen in isolation.
Behind every exceptional learner is usually a network of parents, mentors, teachers, institutions and people willing to invest in potential.
As a country, we need to become that support system more intentionally.
Not only by celebrating excellence after it happens, but by making excellence possible before it happens.
Investing in potential
At Edubanc, we don’t just finance education. We invest in possibility.
Every tuition payment, every education loan and every flexible payment plan is ultimately an investment in someone’s future story.
Perhaps the next youngest chartered accountant, the next groundbreaking engineer, the next founder building solutions for Africa or simply someone whose life changes because they didn’t have to abandon their education due to financial constraints.
Celebrating excellence is important; creating more opportunities for excellence is even more important. Because the next prodigy may already be studying today. The question is:
Will financial barriers stand in the way, or will we build systems that help talent thrive?
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