We’re called students of English not English students. English students are of England origins while the other are learners of the language.
Difference btw lie and lay can be seen in how APC lie all the time and Nigerians lay all their hopes on PO to save us in 2027.
When I was writing my ICAN exam while in school, those daddies & mummies then doing 9-5 used to tell me to be grateful for the opportunity I have.
I didn’t understand it well, until I started working too 😂
I haven’t been able to write any exam since I started working.
once you put work apps on your personal phone, your phone becomes part of the work environment. that means it can be subject to audits, investigations, or legal discovery in certain situations.
best practice is to separate devices. if an organization requires mobile access to corporate tools, employees should be issued a work phone. and if they won’t provide one, it may be worth considering purchasing a separate device to keep work and personal life properly separated.
CFA Exams Practical Tips
Some people have asked me for tips on passing the CFA exams. And since I’m Teacher Cee, I figured I’d share some practical advice from my own little journey, including all the mistakes.
One thing writing the CFA exam has taught me is discipline. It is not about being the smartest in the room. It is more about sheer tenacity, endurance and discipline. The CFA exams will test your knowledge, yes, but they will also test your willpower, your habits and your ability to survive sleepless nights.
There were nights I studied until my brain felt fried, only to wake up a few hours later to continue. Some days, I couldn’t study at all due to other demands but the trick is consistency over time. Whenever I missed a day, I made sure to catch up the next day or over the weekend
My weekends were non negotiable, especially as the exam got closer. It was the only time I could study for long, focused hours.
What really mattered was discipline and accepting that people learn differently. We read at different speeds. We understand things differently. That is why you will not catch me attending lectures. It is simply not my style of learning. And that does not mean I am smarter than those who do. It just means I found what works for me.
Do the same. Find what works for you and stick with it
For me, that meant always carrying my formula book. I had written down all my formulas in a very small notepad. On days I commuted to the office, I used that time to memorise them. Every spare minute counted.
Very important tip. Do not joke with practice questions and mock exams, especially the extra mocks you have to pay for. If you cannot afford them, ask around. The materials are always out there. Try to attempt mock exams at least three to four times before the exam.
And one thing about CFA exams, the options are never random. You can solve complete nonsense and the answer will still be there, staring at you confidently, making you feel like you are correct 😂. It is almost like the examiners already know the exact mistake you are about to make
Finally, sleep. Please sleep the night before the exam. I almost learnt the hard way.
During my last exam, I had the craziest headache. I kept muttering, “God, abeg! Not after everything I’ve been through. Don’t let my enemies laugh at me. I can use Naira 2 million to buy land oo! God abeg, I don’t want to go through this mental torture again!” 😂
I was literally picking wrong answers to questions I knew. When I went back to review my answers, which I always do, I just started spotting the wrong answers I picked. I think God just wanted to pity me and that action saved me.
So if you’re prepping for the CFA, don’t stress about copying someone else’s style. Find your rhythm, stick to it, do your mocks, and sleep the night before the exam
And if, during the exam, you find yourself muttering, “God, abeg!” just know, you’re not alone😂. Somehow, it all works out in the end.
CFA Level I - Access Scholarship; passed on my first attempt.
CFA Level II - Access Scholarship; didn’t pass.
CFA Level II (second attempt) - paid fully out of pocket. It wasn’t cheap (₦2 million for an exam was not what I bargained for), but the scholarship window had closed and I needed to resit ASAP. I pushed through and passed.
I’ll be applying again for the Access Scholarship for CFA Level III, and hopefully, this will mark the end of my CFA journey, God willing 🙏.
Side note: As much as possible, apply for scholarships and grants, they make the journey a lot easier.
Basirat doesn't have a background in finance, but she just passed the November CFA Level I exam🎉.
Basirat started preparing seriously in June, while juggling a demanding role at work right up until days before the exam. It wasn’t easy, but she stayed consistent.
Basirat joined Cowrywise in 2019. She started in Customer Experience and moved into Portfolio Management in 2022. CFA is Basirat's first professional finance program, and passing it feels like proof, mostly to herself, that she belong here.
The biggest lesson for Basirat is, starting is the hardest part. After that, community makes all the difference.
If a big goal has been sitting in your head for a while, start. And don’t do it alone.
I wish many young professionals could watch this. The information here is GOLD. If you genuinely want to grow and improve the quality of your work, especially at the early career stage, please watch this.
@hedrees_ayinde@Iwelabi1 and @A_Dahunsi we need to hijack @BukkyOA to take a session at MC7.0 😋
We banned tablets out the house on weekends for the same reason (they don't use it during the week).
No sitting in the car with your head buried in a device. Stay situationally aware, read a book, sing along, make conversation or sit with your thoughts. Your choice.
Same with haircuts, running errands, whatever. Boredom is good and patience is a great skill to build.
Kids didn't like it initially, but have gotten used to it. Everyone will be fine.
If you work a 9-5 and participate in appraisal sessions please keep a brag sheet. It’s about data. Document all your wins.
In a fast-paced firm, if you don't track your value, you're leaving your career growth to the mercy of your manager's memory.
The mind is very fickle!
There’s a part of working in a Big 4 that no one really prepares you for until you are already inside.
You are expected to be smart and to pick things up very fast. Most times, that is the standard. There is little patience for slow learning, and hand-holding is minimal.
Your village has to be your colleagues. You cannot survive in isolation. Many of them have already gone through what you are facing, and reaching out can save you from unnecessary mistakes.
For example, I am currently working with an entirely different team. A colleague worked with this same team last year, so as I learn the nuances of working with a Middle East team, she is constantly on my speed dial. That kind of insight makes a real difference.
You are allowed to ask questions, but you are expected to think first. Exhaust all available options before going to people. Repeatedly asking basic questions without trying is usually frowned upon.
And let us be clear, it is not always rosy. People repeat levels when they cannot keep up. With consistent poor performance and repeated bad appraisals, you will eventually be asked to resign.
That is the environment. If you want to survive and grow, you have to be ready to put in the work, learn fast, and take responsibility for your own development. It is demanding, but if you can keep up, it can also be very rewarding.
Akinkolade completed all three levels of the CFA Program in just 18 months. Watch this video and be the judge. Is he a Wizkid?😎
As we celebrate him, we ask you to support the future of the investment profession by donating to https://t.co/Io9aFFo5Cf.
#CFAnaija#EndowmentFund
If I buy anything from you and you ask for VAT, I will ask you to print a receipt and give it to me. At the end of the year, I will write to @OfficialNRSNG and ask whether you remitted the VAT you collected from me. I’ll add evidence (the receipt) that you charged me the VAT. If you didn't remit it, I won’t rest until you're in jail.
When they throw a couple of you in jail, sanity will return.
Amongst other things, we’ll do this again this year (2026), hopefully—and possibly in two tranches of 25 people each, from the Cowrywise Ambassadors community.
Additionally, qualified candidates in the 2025 cohort will get an automatic scholarship for CFA Level 2.