Young Nigerians Champion New Era for Future-Ready Finance Leaders

By Ugo Aliogo

The momentum that began with the Young Accountants and Finance Professionals Conference (YAFPC 2025) has evolved into an even more impactful knowledge-sharing platform — the recently concluded Executive Masterclass for young accountants and finance professionals.

Convened by Terhemba Tsepav, a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Tax Practitioner, and Founder of Cruz Wise Consulting and Academy, with Co-Convener Mr. Chukwudi, a highly respected finance leader and transformational Top Executive in a large cosmetics chain.

The masterclass marked a defining moment for the next generation of finance professionals.

Hosted in Abuja, the masterclass was designed to bridge the gap between technical accounting skills and the strategic leadership capacity required to excel in today’s competitive financial landscape. With participants ranging from entry-level professionals to mid-level accountants, the session delivered practical insights on:
Growing from accountant to top executive roles Strategic Career acceleration through soft skills, leadership, and personal branding.

The future of finance in Nigeria’s evolving economy; Becoming a 360 degree accounting and finance business partner; The engagement built on the solid foundation of YAFPC 2025, where young professionals were first challenged to think beyond routine accounting roles.

Tsepav has consistently demonstrated his passion for empowering young accountants and supporting SMEs with world-class accounting, tax, and business advisory solutions. The academy arm serves as a platform for training, mentorship, and leadership development, ensuring finance professionals are not just technically sound but future-ready.

Speaking at the event, Mr AbdulQuddus Balogun, one of the facilitators emphasised:
“Accounting is more than numbers. It is about building influence, driving strategy, and becoming a leader who adds value beyond the books. That is why this Masterclass exists — to shape future-ready finance leaders.”

Chukwudi, the co-convener, brought exceptional depth and experience to the masterclass. Known for his track record of guiding accountants into leadership roles, he challenged participants to reimagine their career journeys and embrace the mindset of executives.

His session, “How to Transition from Accountant to Top Executive”, drew from his years of experience in corporate finance, management consulting, business leadership, and professional mentoring. With a reputation for clarity, practicality, and inspiration, Chukwudi’s contribution left attendees with actionable steps to accelerate their paths to leadership.

The feedback from participants was overwhelming — many described the masterclass as an eye-opener that helped them rethink their approach to career growth. The session has already sparked commitments to mentorship circles, peer accountability groups, and professional development plans, ensuring that the impact extends beyond the event.

As the convener, Tsepav has positioned both the Consulting firm and the academy as central pillars for continuous capacity building.

According to him, his vision is to empower over 10,000 young accountants in the next five years through scholarships, training, workshops and initiatives.

To provide SMEs with tailored tax and consulting solutions for sustainable business growth, and to create a pipeline of future-ready finance leaders who will shape industries, economies, and policies.

With the successful conclusion of the masterclass, the conveners have set a bold pace for what’s next. Building on the legacy of YAFPC and the impact of this session, Terhemba and Chukwudi are committed to scaling their reach, expanding training programmes, and continuing to nurture the next wave of transformative leaders in Nigeria’s finance and business ecosystem.

The message is clear: A new era for accountants has begun — one where they are not just bookkeepers but bold, strategic leaders shaping the future.