₦airaland Forum

2mch:
I have relatives who were identified as gifted abroad. They do not skip class but are made to graduate with their mates. The only thing is they are allowed to take more advanced classes based on some subjects their teacher has identified they are good at.[color=#990000][/color] But time is taken to ensure they develop their special abilities with their mates. They all graduate together at 18.

You closing paragraph is music to my ears.
I am an educator. I am versed in the Nigerian, British and American curricular. Now tell me, which state-funded basic institution gives exceptional students the privilege of differentiated learning to the tune of upscaling the subjects they do in class while remaining in the same class as their pairs?
Nigeria may not be ready for this conversation, but it's worth noting that other countries, like the UK, take a more flexible approach to education. For instance, the Imafedion family, known as the 'smartest family in the UK,' is a great example. Their children have achieved remarkable academic feats, such as passing A-level math at age 9 and starting university at 11. This shows that with the right support and opportunities, exceptional students can thrive and reach their full potential.
https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/meet-the-smartest-family-in-the-world-2024092617143063180

prinsam30:
Let's call a spade a spade, let them breath abeg no be their fault say dem sabi pass their pears

Ok I have heard you, pls minus 9 years from fed govt 12 years then you go understand clearer when your daughter is sleeping and waking up inside house for the next 3 years, dem no dey telli pesinn. All the best papa pikin wey sabi pass hin peers.

Do government schools have nursery and kindagatern now?

ogododo:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/07/fg-fixes-age-12-as-minimum-for-jss1-admission/

Whoever makes these policies are confused.

ogododo:
Whoever makes these policies are confused


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/07/fg-fixes-age-12-as-minimum-for-jss1-admission/

Whoever makes these policies are confused.

brainhgeek:
You closing paragraph is music to my ears.
I am an educator. I am versed in the Nigerian, British and American curricular. Now tell me, which state-funded basic institution gives exceptional students the privilege of differentiated learning to the tune of upscaling the subjects they do in class while remaining in the same class as their pairs?
Nigeria may not be ready for this conversation, but it's worth noting that other countries, like the UK, take a more flexible approach to education. For instance, the Imafedion family, known as the 'smartest family in the UK,' is a great example. Their children have achieved remarkable academic feats, such as passing A-level math at age 9 and starting university at 11. This shows that with the right support and opportunities, exceptional students can thrive and reach their full potential.
https://www.pulse.ng/articles/lifestyle/meet-the-smartest-family-in-the-world-2024092617143063180

Nigeria may need to overhaul its education to give gifted students the opportunity to take more advanced classes if they are interested. But it’s honestly not necessary. The Imafidon’s it’s just show off and their father pushing them for attention as far as I am concerned. What have those children accomplished now that warrants all that push in education? You say you are an educator, most educators actually hold their children back and force them to finish school as age appropriate. They understand more the need to be truly ready at each stage.

If a child is reasonably intelligent, you can teach them anything, in that respect the Imafidons are not special. True geniuses are very rare and they change the world. Some not even that educated. Most people with very high IQ who are considered genius have intellectual disability, like the Savants. There is no true benefit to rushing a child through school. It only confuses the child and puts a child in mature spaces they are not ready for.

When you are talking about genius, the likes of Tesla are geniuses. Very rare. Even Tesla graduates secondary school at 18. So, who is Imafidon and the remaining jokers saying their children are genius so they need to enter University at 14.

Jayhome24:
Ok I have heard you, pls minus 9 years from fed govt 12 years then you go understand clearer when your daughter is sleeping and waking up inside house for the next 3 years, dem no dey telli pesinn. All the best papa pikin wey sabi pass hin peers.

U think I send FG, that 3yrs wey u dey yan so my kids have gone far

prinsam30:
U think I send FG, that 3yrs wey u dey yan so my kids have gone far

Ok, good luck.

FreeIgboho:
How about geniuses like me
Not fair at all
Everybody is different

The Nigerian state wants everybody to crawl at same snail speed forgetting that some are gifted from birth.

tunjijones:
Unto say wetin

If you have a child that is exceptional ,wld you delay the child?

Make minister and ministry of education go find work do ..

Rushing the child through school is not a way of enhancing their capabilities. We like rushing in Nigeria, we love competition.

PlasmaTV:
No, it won't be. But some children have obviously academic inclinations, far beyond their age.

The youngest graduate finished university at age 10. These folks are here proposing 10.

Essentially you are using outliers to represent a whole age group.

I can tell you about two of those kids. FInished school at ten..ie university...did phd at 13...and then ended up doing ....menial jobs, or dropping out.

We should not make a kid graduate at ten because na genius. Many geniuses today graduated at the appropriate age...most of them even.

Tadekun:
So if it is nothing but a number, why pegging the ages?? Let people who qualify go through regardless of their age

Because experience has taught a lot of teachers that a 8 year old in JSS3 is probably struggling to cope with the work

I mean, I have talked about two classmates of my sister in JSS1, who were 8 years and 9 years. Intelligent (one of them even came from a family we knew). But so immature they struggled with the work. (When a child labells another child a baby...matter dey serious. That's the word my sister used to refer to those kids. Babies. One of them did not know how to do laundry self...lol Boarder o!)

Teachers want matured students with intelligence, not a baby with intelligence, who would be struggling to use the intelligence because the maturity ain't there

Many of you are making this argument because country hard and you want your kids to graduate by 19 so that you won't keep struggling with the fees late in life.

Jokes aside, maturity plus intelligence is the best.

brainhgeek:
..then,the labour market now limits them with age barrier except they become entrepreneurs immediately or start off as teachers ..

That's the fault of governments past and present..especially APC (E get why I blame them especially) for not transforming Nigeria from an industrial economy into a job producing economy.

If they had, we would have been generating jobs...to the point that companies would be recuriting students at 300 level to come work for them when they graduate.

Plus the age thing...it's not like they are employing 19 year olds o.

Also, we don't have enough money to form a good enough welfare net...and the madt looting leaders do makes matters worse...but the money Nigeria makes is small to begin with. Hence my first point.

MadamExcellency:
My youngest son is coding and going into formal phone and computer repairs, as that has been his fantasy, but he is 12 years old and in JSS3. You can't reduce him to a low IQ class.

Outliers do not represent a whole group.

fasho01:
What if the child is already engaging in learning coding and some sewing already by the side while schooling? We should not be creating unnecessary barriers to people. I feel it's wrong and there's no point defending this abnormally.

We must be careful not to breed future gangs of idle youngsters. By the way, who is going to fund the coding

We must be careful not to hurry kids into half baked graduated students.

Many of those half baked graduates were rushed through school. Then they get into the job market and zero maturity.

Na this one be their problem? confused and useless bunch, upon all the issues bedeviling this country all this irrelevant and meaningless matter na him go dominate their time, children have been gaining admission into JJS1 at age 9,10,11,and they have been doing very well in life and academics
Even far much better than most 12year olds
All of una dey dominate senate and house of representative,if majority of una dey very brilliant and gained admission at a much younger age ,we for dey see the results with una performance and intelligence and present bills that will impact on the lives of the average citizens

NJV:
Why does the govt always go back and forth on this issue. I thought of recent, 16yrs was approved as minimum for university admission? So how's that possible with 12 being minimum for jss1?

it's 18 that was approved for university

2mch:
Nigeria may need to overhaul its education to give gifted students the opportunity to take more advanced classes if they are interested. But it’s honestly not necessary. The Imafidon’s it’s just show off and their father pushing them for attention as far as I am concerned. What have those children accomplished now that warrants all that push in education? You say you are an educator, most educators actually hold their children back and force them to finish school as age appropriate. They understand more the need to be truly ready at each stage.

If a child is reasonably intelligent, you can teach them anything, in that respect the Imafidons are not special. True geniuses are very rare and they change the world. Some not even that educated. Most people with very high IQ who are considered genius have intellectual disability, like the Savants. There is no true benefit to rushing a child through school. It only confuses the child and puts a child in mature spaces they are not ready for.

When you are talking about genius, the likes of Tesla are geniuses. Very rare. Even Tesla graduates secondary school at 18. So, who is Imafidon and the remaining jokers saying their children are genius so they need to enter University at 14.

I won’t delve into defining genius or the criteria for inductions into such an elite group, but I’d argue that savants are unintentional prodigies. They are accidental geniuses. They possess extraordinary talents intertwined with neurological challenges, a blend of gift and burden. Their remarkable abilities come at the cost of neurological disorders, making their brilliance both rare and costly.

The Imafidon children, often celebrated for their academic feats, haven’t vanished into obscurity. Instead, they’re quietly carving out their paths, living purposefully without chasing the spotlight. Here’s what I know about them:

- Anne-Marie Imafidon (35 years old): She’s the CEO of Stemettes, a social enterprise empowering young women and non-binary individuals in STEM, and serves as the Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
- Christina Imafidon: Information about her is scarce, and I know little to nothing about her current endeavors.
- Samantha Imafidon: She worked as a cloud architect and financial account manager at Microsoft before moving to Deloitte, showcasing her versatility in tech and finance.
- Paula and Peter Imafidon: At around 15 years old, the twins are likely still in university.

Their absence from social media suggests they’re driven by ambition, not fame, focusing on their goals and living authentically. Their father, Dr. Chris Imafidon, an educational consultant, has shown the world that academic excellence and age should not be a rigid combo, after guiding his children to defy conventional limits.

Finally, I must sternly emphasize: Nigeria’s educational system desperately needs reform. The current structure stifles potential, keeping the workforce stagnant. Children are told to wait until 18 for university, yet employers demand a second-class upper degree, a master’s, two years of work experience, and an age under 25. With a four-year degree (often extended by strikes), a two-to-three-year master’s, and minimal job experience, even the fortunate ones approach 30 before meeting these demands. This system feels like a deliberate trap. It’s time to rethink and rebuild, for the sake of our youth and our nation’s future.
We are joking with education in this country! Our policy makers are politicians.

Racoon:
Nice one. Meaning the 6-3-3-4 system of education is still in force. My classmate Kanwe wrote common entrance examination in primary 4 and left from there.

I bet you he would laf behind in secondry school, cus he wouldn't know alot of things

brainhgeek:
I won’t delve into defining genius or the criteria for inductions into such an elite group, but I’d argue that savants are unintentional prodigies. They are accidental geniuses. They possess extraordinary talents intertwined with neurological challenges, a blend of gift and burden. Their remarkable abilities come at the cost of neurological disorders, making their brilliance both rare and costly.

The Imafidon children, often celebrated for their academic feats, haven’t vanished into obscurity. Instead, they’re quietly carving out their paths, living purposefully without chasing the spotlight. Here’s what I know about them:

- Anne-Marie Imafidon (35 years old): She’s the CEO of Stemettes, a social enterprise empowering young women and non-binary individuals in STEM, and serves as the Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
- Christina Imafidon: Information about her is scarce, and I know little to nothing about her current endeavors.
- Samantha Imafidon: She worked as a cloud architect and financial account manager at Microsoft before moving to Deloitte, showcasing her versatility in tech and finance.
- Paula and Peter Imafidon: At around 15 years old, the twins are likely still in university.

Their absence from social media suggests they’re driven by ambition, not fame, focusing on their goals and living authentically. Their father, Dr. Chris Imafidon, an educational consultant, has shown the world that academic excellence and age should not be a rigid combo, after guiding his children to defy conventional limits.

Finally, I must sternly emphasize: Nigeria’s educational system desperately needs reform. The current structure stifles potential, keeping the workforce stagnant. Children are told to wait until 18 for university, yet employers demand a second-class upper degree, a master’s, two years of work experience, and an age under 25. With a four-year degree (often extended by strikes), a two-to-three-year master’s, and minimal job experience, even the fortunate ones approach 30 before meeting these demands. This system feels like a deliberate trap. It’s time to rethink and rebuild, for the sake of our youth and our nation’s future.
We are joking with education in this country! Our policy makers are politicians.

Asking for age limit is discrimination and should be banned. It could also have been because of Nigerian culture of age and respect. Older people think they cannot be managed by their younger managers and they rebel seriously. Nigerians do that a lot. But abroad, a child their age mate will be pushing them around like toy and they dare not say a word.

The curriculum needs to change and the age needs to change. If kids around the same age are graduating every year, it is easier for a government to meet the education needs. Also easier for employers to hire qualified and mature people from a much smaller pool of candidates. It benefits everyone in the end. It reduces the need for unnecessary competition and gives true geniuses the time they need to develop their talents. Without feeling they have to rush and be good at something to make it out of school in time.

As for the Imafidon kids, they have not accomplished more than their mates that finished school at the appropriate age. Once everybody hits 30, you start seeing their mates catch up and even surpass. Some, it’s even from acting they become millionaires. That’s their gift and it was nurtured with time. Some will be much better computer scientists and billionaires. They took their time, actually had childhoods, made mistakes and matured for where they find themselves. All these things are missing from those Imafidon kids experience.

Children who were supposed to still be playing in sand, were studying night and day for A level maths which they passed with Grade E. That is a gba, jensimi grade. Which is, I dash you grade. Let children be children, you never get to be a child again. The rushing does not benefit them at all.

nairalanda1:
Because experience has taught a lot of teachers that a 8 year old in JSS3 is probably struggling to cope with the work

I mean, I have talked about two classmates of my sister in JSS1, who were 8 years and 9 years. Intelligent (one of them even came from a family we knew). But so immature they struggled with the work. (When a child labells another child a baby...matter dey serious. That's the word my sister used to refer to those kids. Babies. One of them did not know how to do laundry self...lol Boarder o!)

Teachers want matured students with intelligence, not a baby with intelligence, who would be struggling to use the intelligence because the maturity ain't there

Many of you are making this argument because country hard and you want your kids to graduate by 19 so that you won't keep struggling with the fees late in life.

Jokes aside, maturity plus intelligence is the best.

Keep concocting stories to justify rubbish. 8yrs in jss3 and 11 years in SS3. Hear yourself Abeg.

What is this maturity you're talking about sef. Can you quantify it? Is the metric by laundry or by what exactly? I truly want to understand.
So if there's a 16 years old that can't do their laundry (and they definitely exist), they need to go back to primary 2 where as we all know, laundry is the topic of the day.

We all know that this topic and people like you are just trying to get some sort of twisted revenge because they were in 26yrs in lvl100 and had mates that were 16.

Trying to make a strawman of my argument, talking about 8yrs in jss3.
Based on your talk sef, maybe the minister is right cause someone like you is supposed to be in JS2.

nairalanda1:
That's the fault of governments past and present..especially APC (E get why I blame them especially) for not transforming Nigeria from an industrial economy into a job producing economy.

If they had, we would have been generating jobs...to the point that companies would be recuriting students at 300 level to come work for them when they graduate.

Plus the age thing...it's not like they are employing 19 year olds o.

Also, we don't have enough money to form a good enough welfare net...and the madt looting leaders do makes matters worse...but the money Nigeria makes is small to begin with. Hence my first point.

I completely agree. However, the shift should have been strategic and phased in carefully to avoid flooding the labor market with a workforce deemed "too old" by employers. Why not first lay the groundwork for job creation and economic growth before setting rigid age criteria?
#Myonekoboreasoningthough

NJV:
Why does the govt always go back and forth on this issue. I thought of recent, 16yrs was approved as minimum for university admission? So how's that possible with 12 being minimum for jss1?

lots of 13 years old are in SS1 already.

In fact some while still 13 will be starting SS2 new session this September

brainhgeek:
I won’t delve into defining genius or the criteria for inductions into such an elite group, but I’d argue that savants are unintentional prodigies. They are accidental geniuses. They possess extraordinary talents intertwined with neurological challenges, a blend of gift and burden. Their remarkable abilities come at the cost of neurological disorders, making their brilliance both rare and costly.

The Imafidon children, often celebrated for their academic feats, haven’t vanished into obscurity. Instead, they’re quietly carving out their paths, living purposefully without chasing the spotlight. Here’s what I know about them:

- Anne-Marie Imafidon (35 years old): She’s the CEO of Stemettes, a social enterprise empowering young women and non-binary individuals in STEM, and serves as the Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
- Christina Imafidon: Information about her is scarce, and I know little to nothing about her current endeavors.
- Samantha Imafidon: She worked as a cloud architect and financial account manager at Microsoft before moving to Deloitte, showcasing her versatility in tech and finance.
- Paula and Peter Imafidon: At around 15 years old, the twins are likely still in university.

Their absence from social media suggests they’re driven by ambition, not fame, focusing on their goals and living authentically. Their father, Dr. Chris Imafidon, an educational consultant, has shown the world that academic excellence and age should not be a rigid combo, after guiding his children to defy conventional limits.

Finally, I must sternly emphasize: Nigeria’s educational system desperately needs reform. The current structure stifles potential, keeping the workforce stagnant. Children are told to wait until 18 for university, yet employers demand a second-class upper degree, a master’s, two years of work experience, and an age under 25. With a four-year degree (often extended by strikes), a two-to-three-year master’s, and minimal job experience, even the fortunate ones approach 30 before meeting these demands. This system feels like a deliberate trap. It’s time to rethink and rebuild, for the sake of our youth and our nation’s future.
We are joking with education in this country! Our policy makers are politicians.

Also, the Imafidon’s seem to curiously be very good at maths. Conveniently their father is a maths professor. Who is fooling who? If my father was a maths professor, I will have known differential equations before taking the class. I will be more impressed when a palm wine tapper’s children all come out with such record. That I will believe are geniuses. A lot of parents push and coach their children. It’s for their own fame and bragging, not the child benefit.

Tadekun:
Keep concocting stories to justify rubbish. 8yrs in jss3 and 11 years in SS3. Hear yourself Abeg.

Thanks for showing me who you really are. Good afternoon and have a good day, young man.

This is bullshit
Most kids likely finish primary 6at the age of 10
As I did back then

This is wrong na, this means a child must be 6 years before entering primary one. Do they think all parents send their children to nursery school before primary school?

alizma:
This is wrong na, this means a child must be 6 years before entering primary one. Do they think all parents send their children to nursery school before primary school?

1. Many kids in this country went to school at seven or eight back in the day, even older, and graduated well. They were not dull

2. Yes, every child has to go to nursery school, and it is a tragedy Nigeria don't have enough if them (Am not a fan of Amaechi, but he and his wife when they were in charge of rivers state did try to set up more nursery schools run by government in the state. SO far he is the only governor to do so...). That's where they learn the basics. If they start at primary one like that, dem go struggle.

3. It does not matter how old a child is when they go to school, what matters is whether the child is willing to learn and whether the child is mature enough to learn self (One eccentric European phillosopher thought that learning should start at 18 self..fortunately not too many people listened to him!). Many educationalists know that a child that is rushed is going to be encountering problems later on.

2mch:
Also, the Imafidon’s seem to curiously be very good at maths. Conveniently their father is a maths professor. Who is fooling who? If my father was a maths professor, I will have known differential equations before taking the class. I will be more impressed when a palm wine tapper’s children all come out with such record. That I will believe are geniuses. A lot of parents push and coach their children. It’s for their own fame and bragging, not the child benefit.

Their university admission at 11years likely required exceptional performance across multiple subjects, not just math.