Undergraduate wants to bag PHD at 13

Her name is Esther Okade. She is ten and presently a student of the United Kingdom’s Open University where she is studying mathematics. Although she was born in Britain, she is of Nigerian parentage. She became an undergraduate in January and since then in a recent examination scored 100 percent marks. The little girl did not just start with maths this year. The subject has been a life-long story. She has always wanted to be a mathematician. She likes figures and calculations in any form. She likes financials, probably that is why she has decided to enrol for her PhD in financial accounting. Indeed, her records and interests have astounded her teachers and parents so much so that the parents have repeatedly asked her to slow down, but she is too intelligent to censor her progression in school. From available records, young Esther did not want to skip classes. She and her parents wanted her to go through the usual promotion process, but alas, she could not be held back in classes that she was clearly superior to. She always exhibited knowledge that pushed her from a class to another two steps ahead, even at that she will still dust everyone in the senior class to grab another promotion. At ten, the highest she should be is in the later sages of primary school that is, primary 5 or 6. Maximum junior secondary school class one is where she should be with her mates. However, she has scaled the secondary school hurdle and now in the university. Hear her speak about her time in the university: “it is interesting. It has the type of maths I love; Its real math-theories, complex numbers. All types of stuff”, she revealed. She also mentioned that her mother has been a pillar because the mom is her ultimate tutor. Now the clincher, Esther declares “I want to finish the course in two years, then I will go and do my PhD in financial maths when I’m 13”. She did not stop there as she claims that she also wants to have her own bank at age 15. According to her “I want o have my own bank by the time I’m 15 because I like numbers and I like people because banking is a great way to help people”. Incidentally, Esther is not the only genius in the family. His younger brother, Isaiah, who is just six will soon sit for his “A” levels. Esther is not only good with maths, she is equally brilliant in other courses. This is why she has not relented in ensuring she comes out best in every field. It just happened that maths is her core competence and advertisement to her genius. And it is even good that her brilliance showed in an environment that will not stall it. This is a testament that confirms that genius in the real sense of the word is not a respecter of race or colour. In our country, we have brilliant people relegated to the background. Or they may not even be given the chance at all for them to present their case not to talk of getting a response. We also have a system, where if they exist at all, stifles brilliance. Some are institutional, others are plain human preference. Our educational sector does not reward merit as they reward mediocrity. It is easier to pass exam after bribing your way through than to drink a cup of table water. In that scenario, how does a genius show up because they have not been challenged! Even when they show up, there are no institutional incentive to keep them. So people just do what they have to do to pass out of school then join the long, snaky queue of looking for jobs. The Esther example is there for us to see. There is no ambiguity in her steady rise. If at 13 she bags a PhD, then little wonder that society is better governed. She can defend her project or thesis because you can see it in her eyes. We wish her luck and watch out for her further rise and what this Nigerian genius will bequest on the world.