11-Year-Old Mathematics Genius Bags World Bank Scholarship In Kano

11-year-old girl Saratu Garba has received academic support from the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a World Bank-supported project in Kano State.

Aliyu Yusuf, the spokesman of the project and Deputy Director, Information Kano, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano Wednesday.

Garba's strength in mathematics and arithmetics without the use of a calculator had made rounds on social media with surprising reactions from many viewers, NAN reports.

Yusuf said that AGILE's National Office had instructed that the champ be found and enrolled in a school, promising to be responsible for her education alongside the state Ministry of Education.

“Coincidentally, the Kano AGILE Project team is on an advocacy visit to the five emirate councils in the state, with a view to soliciting their support, being critical stakeholders in the promotion of adolescent girls’ education.

“During the team’s visit to Gaya Emirate Council, the girl and her parents were invited to the emir’s palace.

“Representative of the state ministry of education and the AGILE team briefed the Emir, Alhaji Ali Ibrahim-Abdulkadir, on the intention of the project to shoulder the educational responsibilities of the young girl,” he said.

He further said a representative of the ministry, Haruna Muhammad-Panidau had presented a school uniform, a bag as well as other learning materials to Garba.

According to Yusuf, the Kano Project Coordinator, Ado Tafida-Zango, also gave N20,000 as educational support for Garba.

Speaking to NAN, Garba who had taken to street hawking after dropping out of school in Primary 4 said she did so after suffering bullying from her schoolmates. 

“I am good in mathematics, whether addition, subtraction, division or multiplication. I can calculate numbers in millions up head, without writing or using a calculator.

“I left school because of bullying. My peers used to call me names which I detested.

“I will not go back to that school. I’ll be happy to continue my studies in another school, away from them,” she said.