A 10 year old Nigerian girl, Esther Okade, has blazed a trail among children her age, who spend their spare time playing with Barbie dolls and making loom bands just like she does.
She has just gained admission into the university to study mathematics.
What makes her case very interesting is that she has never gone to school.
Esther, from Walsall, West Midlands in the United Kingdom, has enrolled on an Open University course months after she passed her A-levels – and wants to study for a PhD before running her own bank.
The girl, who gained a C grade in her mathematics GCSE aged six, has joined the course, which started this month. Her younger brother, Isiah Okade, is already studying for his A-levels – also aged six.
The siblings are both home-schooled by their mother, Omonefe Okade, who has converted the living room of their semi-detached, three-bedroom house into a makeshift classroom.
Mathematician Omonefa, 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 realised 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”.’
Omonefa added that Esther – who will study for her degree at home – was ‘flying’ and ‘so happy’ when she was accepted by the university, and wants to be a millionaire.
She said: ‘for now we want her to enjoy her childhood as well as her mathematics. By the time she was four I had taught her the alphabet, her numbers, and how to add, subtract, multiply and division.
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 also expressed his satisfaction and 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.’

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