Ten-year-old author Jadidah I’hyokome Ishaku-Yusuf has encouraged children to work hard, discover their talents and dream big, saying young people can achieve remarkable things when they believe in themselves and receive the right support.
Jadidah gave the advice in Abuja during the celebration of her 10th birthday and the launch of her two books, Jadidah and the Things Inside Her Bag and Jadidah and the Sneaky Zero.
Speaking at the event, the young author said her interest in writing grew from her creativity, her desire to tell stories and her ambition to build a presence in television and digital media.
She explained that her dream of becoming a successful YouTuber also encouraged her to explore storytelling and eventually develop her ideas into books.
Jadidah urged other children not to limit themselves because of their age, but to work hard, develop their abilities and set ambitious goals that would make their families and country proud.
Her father, Engr. Isaac Ishaku-Yusuf, described the achievement as evidence of what children can accomplish when their ideas are taken seriously and properly nurtured.
«“This was purely her idea, and my wife and I knew we had to support her. Jadidah is hardworking, creative and full of ideas. She sets her mind on something and works towards achieving it,” he said.»
He encouraged parents to pay close attention to the natural abilities and interests of their children rather than restricting them to conventional paths.
According to him, a child’s talent could be in writing, technology, sports, music, art or any other field, and parents have an important responsibility to provide the encouragement and opportunities needed for such talents to grow.
Jadidah’s mother, Dr. Rebecca Godwin-Isaac, also expressed pride in her daughter’s achievement, describing her as a determined and visionary young girl who is willing to work towards bringing her ideas to life.
She thanked God, Jadidah’s teachers, family members and everyone who contributed to her development and to the success of the birthday celebration and book launch.
Dr. Godwin-Isaac also encouraged parents to support positive ambitions in their children, noting that nurturing young talent can contribute not only to the development of individual children but also to the future of society.
The Abuja event brought together family members, educators, friends and guests who gathered to celebrate Jadidah’s 10th birthday and her emergence as a young published author.
It also brought the mother’s classmates in primary, secondary and University to reunite.
The history making book launch attracted staff and members of New Capital school, Asokoro where the young author is a primary six pupil presently with her classmates fully in attendance to show solidarity to their own.
Some of the classmates testified to Jadidah’s ingenuity and hardwork in the school, which distinguished her from others.
The launch of two books at the age of 10 marked an important milestone for Jadidah and reinforced a central message of the celebration: children should be encouraged to read, create, dream boldly and begin developing their talents from an early age.