"Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see."
- Arthur Schopenhauer
There are many movies about genius kids. When next you see a movie of that sort, do not pass it for a mere movie because indeed, there are kid geniuses amongst us. And most of them have African blood running through their veins.
At just the age of 10-year-old, British-Nigerian youngster Esther Okade who lives with her parents in Walsall, in the UK's West Midlands region is currently studying for her undergraduate degree in mathematics. Oh yes, you heard it right!
Despite her young age, Esther Okade is topping her class.
In a report made available by CNN, Esther enrolled at UK-based distance learning college, the Open University and scored 100% in an exam shortly after joining the institution.
"It's so interesting. It has the type of maths I love. Its real maths; theories, complex numbers, all that type of stuff. It was super easy. My mum taught me in a nice way," she told CNN.
Esther’s mother said she noticed her daughter’s love for numbers shortly after starting home-schooling her at the age of three.
Initially, she had been enrolled in a private school but after a few weeks, her parents noticed a change in her behavior.
"One day we were coming back home and she burst out in tears and she said 'I don't ever want to go back to that school; they don't even let me talk!” said her mother, Efe.
By age four, Esther was tackling algebra and quadratic equations.
Esther further dispelled any thoughts that her parents pushed her to start university early. She pointed out that she had wanted to enroll for her degree even earlier.
"I actually wanted to start when I was seven. But my mum was like, "you're too young, calm down."
"I want to (finish the course) in two years. Then I'm going to do my Ph.D. in financial maths when I'm 13.
“I want to have my own bank by the time I'm 15 because I like numbers and I like people and banking is a great way to help people,” she said.
Esther is also writing a series of math books for children titled 'Yummy Yummy Algebra.'
"It starts at a beginner level; that's volume one. But then there will be volume two, and volume three, and then volume four. But I've only written the first one.
"As long as you can add or subtract, you'll be able to do it. I want to show other children they are special," she concluded.
Hmmm…….
Header Image Credit: www.sde.co.ke