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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
The Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Danjuma Shekwolo, has clarified his controversial remarks in a viral video where he appeared to tell residents who do not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to leave the council.
Shekwolo, who came under criticism following the circulation of the video, said his remarks were made in a specific context during a meeting with APC youths and loyalists and were subsequently taken out of context.
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In the viral footage, the chairman was heard saying: “I have said in my area council, it’s either you are doing APC or leave the area council. I am not arguing with you.”
The statement sparked concerns over political intimidation and residents’ freedom to support political parties of their choice, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, in a clarification issued on Wednesday, Shekwolo said he had no intention of disenfranchising residents or denying anyone their fundamental rights.
According to him, the meeting where the statement was made focused on administrative efficiency, local development and the welfare of communities within Kuje Area Council.
“The remarks in question were made in a specific context aimed at addressing administrative efficiency, local development, and community welfare. You may recall that event that led to the unfortunate incident was a meeting with the APC party youths and loyalties,” he said.
The chairman stressed that political affiliation could not be used as a basis for denying residents their rights.
“And as the Executive Chairman of Kuje Area Council, I have no right to disenfranchise any residents or citizen of their fundamental human rights in the council,” Shekwolo said.
He also denied any intention to create disaffection or undermine any group, saying his administration remained committed to serving all communities in Kuje.
“At no point did I intend to cause disaffection, undermine any group, or promote policies that do not serve the best interest of our citizens,” he said.
Shekwolo further appealed to residents and stakeholders to support the development of Kuje regardless of their political, religious or ethnic differences.
“I urge the people of Kuje Area Council and the general public, regardless of their political affiliation, religious, or ethnic difference, to join hands with the administration to make Kuje the area council of our dreams,” he said.
The chairman also appealed to journalists to verify the context of statements before publishing reports, describing the media and government as “partners in progress.”
The controversy followed widespread criticism of the original remarks, with rights groups and political actors raising concerns over the implications of linking residency in Kuje to political support.
The Federal Government has said Compressed Natural Gas can significantly reduce fuel and transportation costs, citing a traveller whose fuel expenditure reportedly dropped from more than N200,000 to about N40,000 after switching to CNG.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this on Wednesday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
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Osanipin said the example demonstrated the potential of CNG to deliver substantial savings as the government expands infrastructure and access to alternative energy across the country.
He said the traveller was able to refill with gas in Kano, demonstrating the expanding availability of CNG beyond major commercial centres.
“So, a lot of people are already benefiting from this policy, and more and more will come now that we are having more people and more firms going into it and investing in it,” he said.
According to Osanipin, the number of companies licensed to retail gas had increased sharply from about four to 81, describing the development as evidence of growing private-sector participation in the Federal Government’s CNG initiative.
However, he acknowledged concerns that some commercial transport operators benefiting from lower CNG costs had yet to pass the savings on to commuters through reduced fares.
“We have a lot that are already doing it; fleet operators are already benefiting from this. So what we are pushing for again, because someone asked me that question, is that I have seen a lot of people benefiting from it, but they refuse to transfer the price to the masses.
“So that is going to be the next stage. But we just want to make sure that all the infrastructure and everything is coming. Then we now see enforcement of some of these policies,” he said.
Osanipin stressed that adequate infrastructure, including filling stations, mobile refuelling units and gas production facilities, remained critical to making the CNG initiative sustainable.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government had taken delivery of the first batch of electric vehicles promised to civil servants, describing it as the beginning of a broader rollout of cleaner-energy vehicles.
The Federal Government has begun the rollout of electric cars for civil servants with the delivery of the first batch of vehicles promised by President Bola Tinubu.
The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, disclosed this on Wednesday after meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Osanipin said the arrival of the vehicles marked the beginning of a broader plan to expand electric mobility in Nigeria, reduce transportation costs and promote cleaner energy.
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“Today, you must have heard in the news that the first batch of the electric vehicle that the President promised civil servants was delivered today, and they are all electric vehicles. This is the beginning of more and more that will come,” he said.
According to him, the government has also deployed electric-vehicle infrastructure in about 16 universities across the country to support the development of an ecosystem for alternative-energy transportation.
Osanipin said the government’s policies on electric vehicles and Compressed Natural Gas would become increasingly visible as investments in supporting infrastructure continue to grow.
He stressed that infrastructure was critical to the success of the alternative-energy transition, noting that CNG adoption, for instance, requires filling stations, mobile refuelling units and gas production facilities.
“You can’t put a policy in place today and start having the immediate impact,” he said, adding that investments were already being made in the required infrastructure.
The NADDC boss also disclosed that the number of companies licensed to retail gas had increased from about four to 81.
He described the development as evidence of growing private-sector participation in the Federal Government’s CNG initiative and said gas was becoming more available in some states.
Osanipin further highlighted the potential of CNG to reduce transportation expenses, citing the experience of a traveller whose fuel expenditure reportedly fell from more than N200,000 to about N40,000 after switching to CNG.
He said the traveller was able to refuel with gas in Kano, demonstrating the expanding availability of CNG beyond major commercial centres.
However, Osanipin acknowledged concerns that some commercial transport operators benefiting from lower CNG costs had yet to transfer the savings to commuters through reduced fares.
“We have a lot that are already doing it; fleet operators are already benefiting from this. So what we are pushing for again, because someone asked me that question, is that I have seen a lot of people benefiting from it, but they refuse to transfer the price to the masses,” he said.
He explained that the next phase of the government’s intervention would focus on ensuring that the benefits of cheaper alternative energy translate into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
Osanipin said his meeting with President Tinubu also provided an opportunity to brief him on developments in the automotive sector, ongoing investments and a draft legislation being developed for the industry.
The Federal Government has continued to promote electric mobility and CNG as part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s transportation energy mix, reduce dependence on petrol and diesel, lower transportation costs and cut emissions.
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