Dads have teaching super power too.

The first teacher who inspired me was my dad, Mr. Samuel Oluboye Ibidapo. He was a Maths, Further Maths, and Physics teacher. He showed me that the foundation of learning starts at home. Despite not being a huge fan of Maths and Further Maths, he managed to teach my brother, who at age 9, became the best student in Maths in Nigeria in JSS 3. My dad taught us about Maths, Physics, and Biology while we were still in primary school. He had students coming for lessons at our place, and I remember how we picked up lines like "SOH CAH TOA" just from overhearing conversations. For my dad, this was a sign of curiosity, and he loved taking us further when he sensed it in us. He believed in the concept of a sponge brain and that there's no age limit to learning. Exposure leads to curiosity, which leads to learning and building genius.

My brother got into secondary school at age 6 and studied Maths for his B.Sc and Actuarial Science for his Masters. I, on the other hand, studied Nursing and am now a school nurse and a teacher, with the pedigree of teaching running through my veins. My mum is also a teacher, so teaching is deeply ingrained in our family.

The second teacher who made a significant impact on me is Mrs. Grace Modupeola Ibidapo. She made learning the multiplication table easy for me, and my brother was able to learn it at age 3, which paved the way for his journey to becoming a mathematician and an actuarial scientist, all thanks to my dad.

After having my son, my dad said to me in Yoruba, "The first and best place for your child to receive an education is to put that child on your lap and teach him/her." I took this advice to heart and started reading to my son at 3 months. By the age of 2 years and 8 months, he started reading. My dad was a divergent learner, using his knowledge of Physics to repair and fabricate electronic gadgets like stabilizers, electric stoves, and ovens. His knowledge has also helped me in repairing and constructing things at home. 

My dad is my hero, and my learning journey and skills today are all thanks to him.
                
                         ~ Mrs Okpako

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