Super Girl of The Month - Oluebubechukwu Sharon James

A distinctive gift to the current millennium, Oluebubechukwu Sharon James was born on April 11 2000. Showing tremendous intellectual capacity very early in life, she was enrolled at Beulahfield Nursery & Primary School as a 1 year old toddler. Sharon began to write at the tender age of 5 - 4 years after being enrolled in Nursery school. Today, she is Nigeria/Africa's youngest author & probably the youngest female published author in the world (as noted by Guinness World Records), having published her first book "Freedom" before her 6th birthday. 

Singled out for her impeccably neat physical appearance at school, Ms James received the Beulahfield Nursery & Primary School Certificate of Merit for the 2007/2008 session. Seeking to extend her personal standard of sanitation to the entire school, she launched the "Wash-a-Hand" Project in February 2010 - donating close to 20 wash-hand basins for the use of all students in her school. Her outstanding leadership potentials set her apart among co-students and she was selected to serve as the School's Social Prefect in 2010 - her final year of primary education. 

Our super girl is also committed to philanthropy and the assistance of under-privileged members of her community. In 2007, she donated foodstuffs, clothing and a tricycle to the Center for Destitute Empowerment, Idimu Ejigbo, Lagos - Nigeria. She has also donated over 2000 copies of her book, "Freedom" to several schools, orphanages and NGOs.

Sharon James - the 2010 Western Magazine "Face of the Future" honoree, has been featured across numerous media outlets in Nigeria - including Radio Nigeria, TV Continental and the Nigerian Television Authority. On Saturday April 26, 2014 she featured on 92.3 Inspiration FM's "Teen Times with Chichi" and was subsequently selected as the "Teen of the week" on the 9INETEEN magazine website (April 28 - May 5 2014).

Sharon's hobbies include writing, reading and collecting stamps. She is a member of the Lagos based Centre for Research, Information Management & Media Development (CRIMMD) Library and has featured in over a dozen book readings in Nigeria. She was also invited as a guest at the World Book Capital in Port Harcourt, where she donated 30 copies of her book for the implementation of the programme.

The commendable feats by Oluebubechukwu Sharon James has attracted the support of several notable individuals. In December 2011,  she got a special phone call from American-based, Nigerian-born Computer wizard - Professor Philip Emegwali, who showed great interest in her book and encouraged her to write more. Sharon has equally autographed her book for distinguished personalities such as Professor Wole Soyinka, Professor J.P Clark, Professor George Luchiri Wajackoyah, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, General Jones Arogbofa, Chief Alex Akinyele J.P, Chief Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Ochiagha Reagan John Ufomba, and Chief Olu Jacobs among others. On February 23, 2012, she played host to Professor George Luchiri Wajackoyah in her school, when the American based Professor of Law and Kenya's Presidential candidate came visiting. At that time, Prof Wajackoyah described his meeting with 12 year old Oluebubechukwu as the height of his joy, during his visit in Nigeria. In his words;

“I have met with world leaders outside Nigeria and Kenya, but meeting with this young girl who is proudly standing tall even at this tender age is a thing of joy. I am honored, and I consider it a great privilege to have her visit me specially.”

Our super girl boasts of numerous awards under her belt. In October 2015 she received a Merit Award in recognition & celebration of her achievement & ground breaking ingenuity as Nigeria’s Youngest Published Author by Speak Quill Initiative (SQI), in celebration of Nigeria’s 55th Independence anniversary. On 30th September 2015, she was honoured with the Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Meritorious Award by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Africa Genius Award Centre, Ghana. On July 17 2012, she was also awarded a Certificate of Recognition by "Shake The Tree" Organization in America, for her accomplishments and valuable contribution to the world of literature. 

At present, Sharon James is undergoing her last year of secondary education at Mercyfield College, Lagos. On July 22, 2014 she was awarded the Mercyfield College Merit Award for positively promoting her school across the country and the world at large. She was also crowned a "Mercyfield Ambassador" in 2013.

Girl Pride Circle is highly supportive of Sharon James' ambition. As a role model for African young girls, we wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.