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How I Became a Chartered Accountant at 17 – Babcock Student
At 17, Oluwatiseyitan Alabi, a 400-level Babcock University student, achieved what many adults only dreamt of: becoming a certified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He tells the inspiring journey of how he balanced academic demands, personal setbacks, and professional goals
How old are you, and what school do you attend?
I just clocked 18 years last December. I’m a final-year student studying Accounting at Babcock University. I’m passionate about God, Accounting and Finance. Like I said, I’m 18 years old now. I’m not the only child of my parents. I have a younger brother who is a science student. Unlike me, he believes in tech rather than accounting.
When exactly did you get the ICAN certification?
That was December last year before I clocked 18.
What inspired you to pursue Accounting?
Of course, we did Business Studies as a subject in junior secondary school. That was when I was in JSS 2 and JSS 3, and I wasn’t that bad because I was great at it. So, my parents just said, ‘Why not go for Accounting instead of going to the usual science that most people thought they wanted to go to?’ I just followed the movement, and here we are today.
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Did you at any point disagree with your parents’ suggestion to study Accounting?
No, I’ve had an interest in it right from the start.
How did you manage to get inducted into the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria at 17?
After I completed my secondary education, there was a session called ATS (Accounting Technician Scheme) before writing the ICAN exam. So, I was reading for it, and when I got to school in 2022, I found out that the organised classes for ATS were awesome.
So, I joined the classes, wrote the exam, and by God’s grace, I passed ATS 1, ATS 2, and ATS 3. I was able to write the skills level for the ICAN exam in November 2023. I was reading for the ATS exams before I gained admission.
After the skills level, I failed one paper in November 2023, then I wrote it again in May 2024. I passed it and got to the final stage, the professional level, and by God’s grace, I passed.
Have you been sitting the exam before you clocked 17?
Yes. I started it when I was 16 years old, just a year after I finished secondary school.
At what point did you realise that there was a need for you to have an ICAN certification?
Well, ICAN is the biggest Accounting certification or qualification in Nigeria, and it is everybody’s dream to have it. The opportunity came for me to sit the exam with the support of my parents and all. Since it is the biggest thing, I just wanted to write it and see if I could get it.
How were you able to balance university coursework and ICAN professional studies?
In Accounting, some of the topics are related and interwoven. So, I focused more on reading for the ICAN exam. If I focused on reading for the ICAN exam, then schoolwork was also part of it. I read for that, but when it was time to focus on schoolwork, I also focused on that. It meant that there would be less time for me to play around and do some other things.
Was there any challenging moment for you while studying for ICAN?
There were some topics I couldn’t understand, but my teachers helped. When I said I failed a paper, I felt bad because I had never failed before, since I’ve been writing. So, when I failed, it was quite a discouraging moment, but thanks to God and my parents, who stood by me.
What went through your mind the moment you failed one of the exams?
Honestly, I had wanted to stop it. I was about to say that after my graduation, I would pick it up again because I was discouraged. I was just down trying to read what I had read in the past. I wasn’t even in the right mental state to pick it up again, but I thought there was no point in starting a project and not finishing it.
There was no use for that, so I talked to my parents, and they also advised me. They said there was no point in starting if that was what I would do. They said I should continue and keep striving for it, and that was how I kept on going.
Did your ICAN exam ever clash with the normal school examination period?
Not really. There was usually a month’s gap between the ICAN and school exams, so there was enough time for me to pick up schoolwork immediately and go to school.
For instance, if there’s an ICAN exam in November, and usually the school exam starts in December, there would be a month gap that I could easily read up and brush through everything that I had done in school for the semester.
What can you say about your academic performance as an undergraduate?
Throughout my academic journey as an undergraduate student of Accounting at Babcock University, I have been privileged to maintain a strong academic record. This accomplishment is not just a reflection of grades but of consistency, intentional effort, and a deep-rooted commitment to excellence.
From the beginning, I set out not just to succeed but to stand out. Accounting is a rigorous discipline, demanding attention to detail, analytical thinking, and a deep understanding of financial systems.
Among the many courses I encountered, Financial Management stood out as my favourite. I was drawn to it not only because of the complexity it presented but also because it required me to think critically and strategically, and that I believe defines leadership in the field of finance.
Achieving academic success has not come without its challenges. Like many students, there were moments of pressure, tight deadlines, and even courses that seemed overwhelming. However, with a combination of faith, discipline, and effective study methods, I’ve learnt to navigate these periods with resilience.
I believe that God is the ultimate source of wisdom, and I genuinely consider Him my number one strategy for success. I also made heavy use of YouTube tutorials and other digital resources to break down complex topics into understandable formats.
Teaching others has also played a crucial role in strengthening my understanding; the more I taught, the deeper my grasp of the material became. I draw a lot of motivation from a quote my dad often reminds me of: “Genius is 99 per cent perspiration and one per cent inspiration.”
That quote has stayed with me, constantly reminding me that excellence is not a gift but a result of continuous effort. It inspired me to push boundaries, study late into the night, ask more questions, and never settle for ‘just enough’.
Beyond academics, I actively tutor my peers, not for reward, but because I believe knowledge grows best when it is shared. It gives me immense joy to see those I help succeed to know that I’ve made a difference in someone else’s academic story.
How did your lecturers, friends, and colleagues contribute to the achievement?
They played a very big role. First of all, my parents were very vital, giving me strength, support, and guidance. Then our teachers were also very supportive of the fact that when we were sitting the exam, they taught us in line with the exam. The school organised ICAN classes for us to sit the exams. I had friends who also sat the exams, so we were reading together.
Were you the youngest among your friends who also wrote the ICAN exams?
Yes, I was.
Can you describe a moment when you had to work with people older or more experienced and how you were able to earn their respect and contribute meaningfully?
There was a period of holiday before the semester started when I was attending ICAN classes at home last year, and the people there with us were much older. The teachers were much older. How I gained their respect was that although I’m young, yes, I admit that, but they knew that I was striving for something, too.
They knew that for me to be there, we had the same goal. We were all trying to learn and work together towards achieving the goal of the exam, and I showed that I also knew something to an extent, and through that, I was able to gain their respect.
Did you experience any stigma or stereotypes about being the youngest among them?
Not really, and that was because I was already used to being the youngest among many people.
Why did you say so?
Most of my friends are older people who are maybe two years older than me.
Why do you prefer to keep older friends?
It just happened. I’m naturally drawn to talking to more people with higher kinds of experience, and of course, it has an impact on the way I see life. I believe people around me have great things in them. They are making me see that I’m more future-oriented now than just playing around and enjoying myself. I’m looking at the future because of the kind of people that are already around me.
Integrity is a key value in Accounting. Can you tell us about a time when you had to make a very difficult ethical decision?
I don’t think I’ve had that kind of ethical decision that would test my integrity. I don’t think I’ve come across that yet.
What areas of accounting are you most interested in for the future, and why?
I prefer Corporate Finance. I chose Corporate Finance because it is more dynamic and interesting than the typical auditing or taxation. For me, those are just the boring aspects of accounting.
Have you made any step in pursuing corporate finance?
Yes. I’m taking courses on Financial Analysis and Financial Modelling.
What global accounting certifications or advanced degrees are you considering next?
I’ll be considering the ACCA (Association of Certified Chartered Accountants) for sure, and the CFA (Certified Financial Analyst).
What would you say is your biggest personal growth or transformation so far?
My biggest personal growth was being able to build more confidence. Coming from a space of older people, sometimes you tend to be a bit timid, but looking back, I think I’ve learnt to be more confident, and to any young person out there, go for it, remain focused, and be determined to get your goal. Age is never a barrier to any goal.
Source: The Punch
President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigerian security forces have neutralised more than 13,000 terrorists within the past 12 months, describing it as a major breakthrough in the country’s ongoing fight against insecurity.
The President made the disclosure on Friday during his Democracy Day address to the nation, where he outlined progress made by his administration in tackling terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes across the country.
Tinubu said Nigeria has moved beyond routine military training exercises with international allies and is now focused on more precise and effective operations against terrorist groups.
He cited a recent successful military operation in Arege, Borno State, where troops reportedly degraded a command centre belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
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“We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targetting. In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” he said.
The President also emphasized that the Federal Government remains committed to non-kinetic approaches in addressing insecurity, including encouraging repentant insurgents to surrender and reintegrate into society.
He revealed that more than 124,000 insurgents and their dependants have surrendered since 2023 through the government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme.
“But we also keep the door of surrender open. Over 124,000 fighters and dependants have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” Tinubu stated.
Warning criminals, the President said bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terrorism must embrace peace or face the full force of the law.
“To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians,” he warned.
Tinubu further urged Nigerians to remain united in the face of security challenges, stressing that criminal activities should not be viewed through ethnic or regional lines.
“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu has said that democratic governance must translate into tangible economic benefits for citizens, stressing that “democracy must be felt in the pocket” as his administration continues to implement reforms aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
Speaking in his Democracy Day address on Friday, the President said ongoing infrastructure projects across the country are helping to connect producers to markets while creating opportunities for enterprise and employment.
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Tinubu also disclosed that the National Agricultural Development Fund is set to deploy 10,000 tractors over the next five years to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food production nationwide.
Highlighting some of the gains recorded by his administration, the President revealed that more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been certified for export.
He added that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent in the past year, reflecting efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond crude oil.
Despite these achievements, Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians are still grappling with economic hardship.
He said his administration remains focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards and rebuilding confidence in the economy.
According to him, the government is working to move the country “from uncertainty to stability,” with the next phase of reforms aimed at accelerating economic growth and ensuring that progress is felt at household and community levels across all regions.
The President further stated that his administration is pursuing financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, arguing that weak grassroots governance has contributed to development challenges and insecurity in parts of the country.
Tinubu maintained that strengthening local government administration is crucial to addressing insecurity and improving service delivery, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda is designed to ensure that the dividends of governance reach every Nigerian.
He reiterated his commitment to building a more stable and prosperous nation where the benefits of democracy are visible in the everyday lives of citizens.
Hundreds of pensioners in Benue State on Wednesday took to the streets of Makurdi to protest the non-payment of gratuities, pension arrears and the failure of the government to harmonise pension payments, lamenting that many retirees are dying due to hardship and lack of access to healthcare.
The protesters, under the umbrella of the Concerned Pensioners Association of Benue State, staged a peaceful demonstration and threatened to occupy the Benue State Government House if their demands continue to be ignored.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Pay Us Our Pension, Our Members Are Dying” and other messages demanding justice, the retirees expressed frustration over what they described as years of neglect and broken promises.
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Speaking during the protest, the association’s chairman, Akosu Orban, said pensioners had exhausted all avenues of dialogue with the state government without achieving any meaningful result.
“We have exhausted all avenues for dialogue and resolution with the Benue State Government over our demands without success. That is why we have decided to embark on this peaceful protest,” he said.
According to Orban, gratuities dating back to the year 2000 remain unpaid, while pension arrears owed to state retirees stand at 38 months and those owed to local government retirees have accumulated to 62 months.
He also raised concerns over the non-harmonisation of pensions, claiming that some retirees still receive as little as N2,000 monthly despite existing provisions for improved pension payments.
“It may interest you to know that some pensioners who retired many years ago are still being paid N2,000 monthly pension. If pensions were properly harmonised, they should be receiving up to N40,000 per month,” he stated.
The pensioners lamented that the prolonged delay in settling their entitlements has pushed many retirees into extreme poverty.
“Pensioners are dying on a daily basis because they cannot afford drugs and special diets required for age-related ailments. We have become scavengers, beggars and destitute in the land we served diligently,” Orban added.
The association accused the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia of failing to fulfil promises allegedly made during the 2023 election campaign to clear pension arrears and gratuities within 100 days of assuming office.
The retirees further alleged that they withdrew several court cases against the government after receiving assurances that outstanding payments would be settled on a first-retired, first-paid basis, only for those promises to remain unfulfilled.
Warning that their patience was running out, the protesters vowed to escalate their action if their demands were not addressed.
“We are hungry and angry. If our concerns are not addressed, we will have no option than to occupy the Benue State Government House until justice is done to pensioners,” Orban declared.
Responding to the protest, Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba, said the current administration inherited pension and gratuity liabilities estimated at N300 billion.
He noted that the government was making efforts to settle the obligations despite limited resources.
“That is what we inherited, but we are doing our very best to pay what we can. They have the right to demonstrate, but government, in its wisdom, is doing its best,” Oglegba said.
The commissioner added that the administration had fully paid gratuities of workers who retired since it assumed office in 2023, while also working to reduce the backlog inherited from previous administrations.
The protest highlights the growing frustration among pensioners in Benue State, many of whom say years of unpaid entitlements have left them struggling to survive.
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