Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television on Sunday, 16-year-old Osasere Okundaye, who recently made history as Nigeria's youngest chartered accountant, stated that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is not excessively difficult. Instead, she pointed to disparities in educational quality across the country as the primary challenge for many candidates.
Educational Quality Over Cut-Off Marks
Okundaye, who passed the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) professional examinations at just 16, broke the previous record set by Jonathan Adewale, who was 17 in 2022. She acknowledged that her own experience may not reflect that of all students, having attended a private school in Lagos. "I feel that JAMB is not too difficult to pass," she said. "I understand that it depends on the quality of education that you are receiving. I went to a private school in Lagos. So, there are different standards of education across Nigeria."
First Attempt as Practice
The teenage accountant revealed that she wrote the UTME twice. Her initial attempt was merely to familiarize herself with the exam format, as she had no immediate plans to enter university. She sat for it again the following year. This background led her to caution against using her case as a single indicator of the general quality of education.
"I can't use my case as a single indicator of the quality across board. I understand that the level of education being provided at different schools would impact how students will be able to perform in those examinations. And you can't say JAMB should create different examinations for everyone, but the cut-off for certain institutions, I believe they exist there for a reason," she added.
Cut-Off Marks Debate
On the ongoing discussion about lowering university admission cut-off marks, Okundaye expressed firm opposition. "I don't think bringing the standard down is the solution," she stated. "I believe moves should be made to improve the quality of education that students are receiving in schools to help them perform better. I think increasing the resources given to people to reach that standard is the solution instead." She added that Nigerian youths possess the ability and potential to succeed if provided with additional resources and guidance.
Path to Chartered Accountant
Okundaye's journey to becoming a chartered accountant was not without setbacks. She previously disclosed that she failed one of her final ICAN professional examination papers before successfully rewriting it. The experience, she said, taught her resilience over the three-year process. Her achievement has sparked renewed conversations about JAMB performance, university admissions, and the state of education in Nigeria.
Her comments come at a time when Nigerians are once again debating JAMB results, admission cut-off marks, and whether the standards for entering higher institutions should be reduced. While some advocate for lower cut-offs to increase access, Okundaye's stance highlights the need for systemic improvements in education quality across the country.
