Catching them young

Following the feat achieved by eight-year-old Amarachi Uyanne, who won N10m for emerging first in the recently concluded Nigeria Got Talent Show, many have stressed the need to identify and develop talents in pupils.

Waking up on the morning of the Nigeria Got Talent show grand finale, eight-year-old Amarachi Uyanne, an indigene of Benin City, Edo State, would not have thought that she would go to bed N10m richer.

Amarachi, a pupil of South Point Primary School, Edo State, was fortunate to have a mother who took interest in building her talent. But what if her mother, Mrs. Emike Uyanne, had not taken interest in her daughter’s talent? Amarachi would not have  had a story to tell.

In an interview with journalists,  Uyanne said she discovered her daughter’s talent as early as when she was five. “On making the discovery, I enrolled her into a dancing school,she attends on some school days and on Saturdays. I actually never knew my daughter was a feat-recorder,” she said.

The show which triggered excitement among parents and counsellors has reawakened the issue of parents establishing balance between education and talents in their children.

Some counsellors who spoke with our correspondent said that the percentage of children who grow up never to discover their talents is on the increase .Hence, the need for schools also to realign their curriculum towards developing the children’s talents.

A parent, Mr. Stanley Chuwkwuma, said Nyanne’s feat had made him see the need to encourage his son to develop his talent.

He said, “I was so touched by the success story of Amarachi. If only Nigerian parents can build the talents of their children, we would have inventors and world-class individuals in Nigeria. Our school curriculum focuses on education. But abroad, their curriculum is balanced.

“Children are taught to exhibit their talents at a young age. Nigeria can have more world-class athletes, musicians, inventors if children are groomed to make use of their God-given talents. The Bible even says the gift of a man makes him to stand before kings,” he said.

Meanwhile, a professor in the department of Educational Studies at Purdue University, United States, Sidney Moon, said that children, who were encouraged to develop their talent, excel better than other children.

In an online article, Moon said that one of the most important things parents could do for their children is to help them develop their personal talent.

 “Children who develop personal talent are more likely to experience academic success and overall well-being in middle school, high school, and college. They are also more likely to be able to achieve high-level career goals and successfully manage competing priorities in young adulthood. They have the skills they need to maximise their potential and build satisfying lives,” he said.

An associate Professor, Department of Guidance and Counselling, University of Ibadan, Oyesoji Aremu, said that the best time for parents to identify their children’s talent is during their tender ages.

He said, “Developmentally, children are not innately the same. It is however, incumbent on parents to recognise the budding talent in their children. This is because at very early age, children manifest hidden talents. When they are encouraged and guided, such talents come to the fore.

“Children can benefit if their talents are identified at the right time. At this stage of development, they can be guided to polish it,” he said.

The Counselling and Correctional Psychologist added, “Observation skills are essential at this stage of development. Parents should therefore watch out for some unusual but interesting behaviour early in life. Some of these include but not limited to the following; first, If children show excellent academic performance in all subjects or a particular subject. It should be noted that identification of budding talent is not school subject specific. It could be in form of psychomotor skills by the gifted child. Second, if they show a heightened level of interest in a particular field. Third, pay attention to the kind of programmes he or she likes to watch. Fourth, watch what he is curious about. At this stage of development, children develop curiosity skills. Last, children could also display extreme intelligence. Such children are very special and should be managed by the parents and teachers,” he said.

The Proprietor, New Bloom (Blossom Folks) Nursery& Primary school, Lagos, Mrs. Olufunke Olabisi, said every child has been endowed with great potentials and that parents have the key to unlock these potentials.

“Every child is endowed with great potential and talent and these have to be discovered earlier in life, nurtured with passion by both teachers and parents.

 Eight-year-old Amarachi was just fortunate to have parents who discovered her talents early. There are millions and millions of children who possess talents that can make them millionaires,’ she said.

A Guidance counsellor from Edgewood College, Lagos, Ms. Funke Daodu, said more and more Nigerians were dying without discovering their talents.

She said, “The way forward is to create more platforms that will help our young people to express their gifting  and talents in a non-judgmental environment. Our society must re-educate parents to think differently. Many of them would like their children to study prestigious professions which bring pride and joy to them but that must not be the only reason why their children should study a particular profession. The people affecting our world today were not groomed within the walls of a classroom. In fact some of them dropped out of school to pursue their dreams and they have affected many of us positively. This is not to undermine the importance of classroom education in any way; we must be able to strike a balance.

“Some children are artistic in nature, so they have a flare for arts, music and creative things and should be allowed to explore their options. They should not be denied the freedom to pursue their desired interests, even though guidance is needed to ensure they stay on course. Parents should expose them to activities that will bring out more of their innate abilities, watching closely their progress and giving them all the support and love needed to believe in themselves.

“When a child discovers his or her potential / talent at an early age, it allows him or her to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities available to him/her. It opens up the child’s creativity, his or her ability to explore and think outside of the box, giving him/her an edge in a competitive world. A child becomes happier, confident and more productive in and outside of the classroom. Hence excelling in every area of life,” Daoudu said.

She added that a child not given the room to pursue his or her interests other than academics might end up frustrated and unfulfilled. “The lack of freedom to express oneself can stop the child from discovering who he or she is truly meant to become.

“Parents need to become more open in our society today, encouraging youngsters to express their God- given abilities no matter what. Gone are the days when a university/structured academic qualification determines the kind of vocation / job you end up with. The world is becoming more complex and needs creative thinkers who can solve the problems not only today’s problems but most importantly tomorrow’s. Some of the skills needed are not necessarily developed within the four walls of a  classroom, rather they are discovered just by doing the things we love to do most. Parents must give their children the freedom to express themselves and equip them with the necessary skills required to be on the cutting edge.”

Corroborating the view of Daodu, the Registrar, Beacon Co-educational College, Ifo, Ogun State, Mr. Joel Effiong, said, “Parents should always encourage their children who exhibit outstanding talents. God has given everyone a talent or multiple talents but how these talents or gifts are managed is important. Proverbs 18.16 says that the gift of a man will make way for him and usher him into the presence of the great.

“Today we are celebrating Amarachi Uyanne for her outstanding performance. If she was not encouraged by her parents, maybe we might not have heard about her. Of course the place of education is very important. A talented illiterate will not achieve more like his/her contemporaries who are educated.  The combination of both will give birth to a child that will affect the family positively and the society at large,” he said.

Punch Nigeria