Meet 10 Year Old Nigerian Girl Who Got Accepted To Study Maths In University

A 10-year-old Nigerian, Esther Okade, has enrolled on an Open University to study maths months after she passed her A-levels. The lil girl whose dreams is to study for a PhD before running her own bank gained a C grade in her maths GCSE aged six. Her younger brother Isiah is already studying for his A-levels - also aged six.

The siblings are both home-schooled by their mother Omonefe, who has converted the living room of their semi-detached, three-bedroom house into a makeshift classroom. Mathematician Mrs Okade, 37, said:

‘Esther is doing so well. She took a test recently and scored 100 per cent. Applying to the university was an interesting process because of her age. We even had to talk to the vice-chancellor. After they interviewed her they realized that this has been her idea from the beginning. From the age of seven Esther has wanted to go to university.

But I was afraid it was too soon. She would say, “Mum, when am I starting?”, and go on and on and on. Finally, after three years she told me, “Mum, I think it is about time I started university now”.’

Mrs Okade added that Esther will study for her degree at home;

For now we want her to enjoy her childhood as well as her maths. By the time she was four I had taught her the alphabet, her numbers, and how to add, subtract, multiply and division. I saw that she loved patterns so developed a way of using that to teach her new things. I thought I would try her with algebra, and she loved it more than anything.’ 

Esther stunned her parents last year when she achieved a B grade in her pure maths A-level. She applied to the Open University last August - and after a phone interview, an essay and an exam, she was told in December that she had been accepted onto the course.

Her father Paul, 42, a managing director, added:

‘I cannot tell you how happy and proud I am as a father. The desire of every parent is to see their children exceed them, and take the family name to great heights, and my children have done just that.’

Esther & her family lives in Walsall, West Midlands.