9 - year-old Nigerian girl turns TikTok into maths classroom, teaches thousands

A nine-year-old Nigerian girl, Charlotte Muritala, is winning attention online by using TikTok to make mathematics easier and more enjoyable for thousands of learners.

Armed with nothing more than a whiteboard, marker and smartphone, the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil has transformed her social media page into a virtual mathematics classroom.

Muritala, who developed an interest in numbers at the age of five, uses short lessons to explain mathematical concepts, including algebra and fractions, in simple and relatable ways.

Her videos have attracted learners beyond her immediate environment, with children and adults tuning in to watch the young teacher solve mathematical problems and explain the steps involved.

Rather than presenting mathematics as a difficult subject, Muritala seeks to show her audience that learning numbers can be enjoyable.

Her growing online presence has also drawn attention to the role young people can play in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education across Africa.

The nine-year-old’s story demonstrates how social media platforms, when creatively used, can complement traditional classrooms and provide educational opportunities beyond the four walls of a school.

With a smartphone serving as her camera and a whiteboard as her classroom, Muritala is proving that age does not have to be a barrier to making an impact in education.