Biography
Sweet 16: Meet Esther Okade – Nigerian Teenage PhD holder In Financial Mathematics
By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Esther Okade is a British Nigerian who, at just six years, earned a C on her math GCSE, an exam typically taken in the UK by students between the ages of 14 and 16.
Esther has always been interested in math and resides with her family in Walsall, in the West Midlands.
She was reportedly home-schooled by her mother, who began tutoring her at age three before she sat for the GCSC exams at Wolverhampton’s Ounsdale High School.
Going to college was Esther’s idea, despite some people giving her mathematician mother, Omonefe “Efe” Okade, credit.
Soon after starting to homeschool Esther when she was three years old, Esther’s mother, Efe Okade, became aware of her daughter’s aptitude for numbers.
Okade outperformed herself and earned the A she desired a year later. Then, in 2014, she took the Math A-level exam and received a B.
Later in 2015, Esther enrolled in a university maths course at the Open University (a distance learning college with headquarters in the UK) at the age of 10, becoming one of the youngest undergraduate students in the nation to earn straight As.
Surprisingly, she had only been enrolled for three weeks when, after taking her first test, which she described as “easy,” she was already at the top of the class.
“I want to (finish the course) in two years. I actually wanted to start when I was seven. But my mum was like, “you’re too young, calm down.” So I’m going to do my PhD 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 at the time of her enrolment.
One very inspiring aspect of Esther’s story was that, like every other kid, she developed a love for toys, sports, and music as a child. Equally, she had the same passion for arithmetic.
Esther is not only one of the youngest college students in history but also the author of the Yummy Yummy Algebra series of math workbooks for children.
“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,” Esther said about her book.
She further disclosed that she dreams of opening a bank in the future.
“I want to (finish the course) in two years. Then I’m going to do my PhD 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.”
Esther Okade is well, another Nigerian special whiz kid out there the world should look out for.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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