Hello, I am Mustafa Adebola. I am a fraud risk consultant and systems thinker, and I help professionals strengthen governance, uncover risk and build assurance. My career has been spent where controls are tested and sometimes fail – investigations, fraud risk management, forensic audit and internal audit. I am a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), a Fellow of the ACCA (FCCA), a CPA, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). If you are preparing for the CIA Challenge Exam, that background matters for a simple reason. This is not a memory test. The IIA says the exam evaluates the practical application of internal audit knowledge at an advanced level, and the syllabus is written the same way – determine, evaluate, assess, analyse, apply. You pass by reading a scenario, seeing what is really going on and choosing the answer an auditor could defend. That is the skill I train in every candidate.
What systems thinking means for your exam
Systems thinking asks not only what happened, but why it happened and what it connects to. That is the same logic behind root causes, residual risk and the way findings feed into governance. A finding leads to the identification of its root cause, which informs the recommendation. Management’s action plan must address the root cause, Internal Audit follows up on the implementation of the agreed actions, and any unresolved issues are escalated as necessary. These are not separate concepts to memorise but links in a single chain of reasoning. Once you understand how they connect, exam questions become easier to interpret, and the correct answer becomes easier to identify. I teach the syllabus as a connected body of knowledge, not a collection of facts to memorise. By understanding how concepts relate to one another, applying the standards to practical scenarios, and working through exam-style questions, you develop the reasoning skills needed to identify the best answer.
Why I created this programme
The CIA Challenge Exam With Mustafa was created because I understand what these exams feel like for candidates. As a chartered accountant (FCCA), CPA and a CISA holder, I come from the same professional backgrounds as the candidates on the accounting and information systems pathways. You are a busy professional, often already qualified, with a job, deadlines and a life outside your studies. You need clarity on what matters, how it is tested, and how to answer exactly what is asked.
I also believe that knowledge alone is not enough. An exam tests whether you can recall what you know under time pressure, read the question that was actually asked, and keep a clear head across 150 questions. So, we practise that too. I teach by involving people, not by talking at them – discussion on the learning platform before, during and after classes, and reading, listening, writing and speaking in every session, so that everyone takes part. As the saying often attributed to Benjamin Franklin goes, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
How I teach
- Syllabus-led. Every session maps to the IIA’s five syllabus sections, so you know where each topic fits, what it covers, and how it contributes to the exam. Whatever your professional background or level of experience, I help you understand what the examiner is testing, what the question is really asking, and how to identify the best answer.
- The examiner’s eye view. Whatever your background, experience, or career goals, I help you understand what the examiner is really asking, what the question is testing, and what distinguishes the best answer from the alternatives.
- Practical. We connect theory to real-life internal audit scenarios, linking key concepts to the Global Internal Audit Standards so you understand how they apply in practice and how to use that understanding to work through exam questions.
- Inclusive and Interactive. Learning is an active process. Candidates from all professional backgrounds, experience levels, and career stages are welcome. Everyone is encouraged to participate, share perspectives, contribute to discussions, and ask questions in a supportive, respectful learning environment. No question is too basic, and every contribution is an opportunity to learn. You participate in discussions, work through questions, and engage on the learning platform before, during, and after sessions, reinforcing your understanding at every stage.
- Strategy-minded. Knowing the material is only part of exam preparation. We also work on time management, flagging and returning to difficult questions, eliminating distractors, and preparing for exam day. You develop a strategy for using your time wisely and making informed choices under pressure.
- Supported. Practice questions, progress tracking, and one-to-one mentoring options help you identify your strengths, pinpoint gaps, and focus your efforts where they will make the greatest difference.
More than a pass, beyond the classroom
Passing is the goal, but it is not the whole point of the CCEM experience. I want you to leave this programme knowing the material for life, not just for the exam, to be able to explain it at work, carrying it into your next role and apply it in life. If you are going to invest your time and money, you should get more than a pass mark. You should get an experience that adds value long after exam day. Knowledge has the most value when it is passed on, so I encourage every candidate to challenge their thinking by explaining these concepts in simple, everyday language that even a 5-year-old could understand.
Learners often describe my teaching as clear, practical and exam-focused, and say that the resources help them connect the dots and build real confidence. My teaching goes beyond this programme. I facilitate professional training, serve as adjunct faculty, and mentor individuals.
Occasionally, I write on internal audit topics sharing insights and perspectives, with some of my contributions published in professional publications. Here is a sample of my thoughts on internal audit:
Good conversations often spark the best topics, so if there is an internal audit question you would like me to explore, or you would like to write a piece together, get in touch.
Choose the support that fits you
- Self-Study Access: on-demand lessons and resources through the learning platform, at your own pace, with no live classes
- 6-Week Blended Programme: six live online classes with me, on-demand lessons, practice questions and progress tracking
- 5-Day Masterclass Speedrun: five live, intensive days built for busy professionals, covering the content that matters most, exam-style practice questions and exam-ready strategies in a short window
- One-to-one mentoring: a personalised study plan, review and feedback, and exam strategy support
- Corporate training: custom in-house tailored training programmes designed around your organisation’s needs and objectives, whether you are strengthening your existing Internal Audit team, developing employees for future Internal Audit roles, or building Internal Audit capabilities across your organisation.
Prepare with clarity. Sit the CIA Challenge Exam with confidence. Choose a programme and let us get started.
Signed
Mustafa