At Sam Mbakwe airport Owerri, a billboard has been put up for our star boy, Egejurum Onyedikachi, to celebrate him as he arrived in Owerri today. He is 11 years old and the world’s best in the Primary category for Mathematics. He is so good that he finished the exam and fell asleep. What a star!

We captured this beautiful moment as Egejurum Onyedikachi and Don-Anele Munachimso arrived at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, yesterday to a true hero's welcome. These are not football stars. They are not musicians. They are not politicians. They are children. Children who became the world's best in Mathematics in the Primary and Senior categories. Don-Anele Munachimso is also the world's best in Science. The last literary figures from the South East to receive this kind of heroic public welcome were Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Watching our brightest young minds being celebrated like national heroes gives me hope. For too long, we have celebrated almost everything except academic excellence. That is beginning to change. Education is reclaiming its rightful place in our society, and a generation of children is growing up believing that knowledge, hard work and excellence deserve standing ovations too. This is bigger than two children. This is the beginning of a movement.

The wait is over. We have 2 golds: Chimdiebube Onwubiko and Don Anele Munachimso. We are the best in the world! Egejurum Onyedikachi’s name was omitted. He should have a gold.

Our star boy, Egejurum Onyedikachi, said that if education were a scam, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Listen to him.