By Mathematics, one subject many dread, is a piece of cake for Tella Michael Omojolade, a numerologist. Dubbed ‘Nigeria’s Human Calculator’, the 29-year-old is known for his genius to solve maths calculations before anyone can say Jack. While the average person would be reaching for a calculator, he has the answer already.
In this interview with BlackBox Nigeria, Omojolade talks about his love for numbers and journey as a numerologist.
At what age did you realize you could manipulate numbers easily?
I realised I could manipulate numbers easily at age 8. Interestingly, I initially thought it was something everyone else could do. Later, upon getting admission into secondary school I noticed that I was wrong; not everyone could do it.
In your viral videos, it could be seen that you give answers to any arithmetic question within seconds. Is there some trick behind this?
Well, there are no tricks to this. All I know for sure is that I play with numbers almost every time except when I’m sleeping. The constant manipulation and regular practice have really helped me to understand how it works. For me, tricks will be limited to a specific area.
What’s your education background? Did you study Mathematics?
I studied Geography in the University. Many people ask me why I opted for the course, and not Mathematics. The reason is not far-fetched. I fell in love with aquatic life during my primary school days, and by the time I started watching documentaries on life inside the oceans, I decided to study geography. I actually wanted to be an oceanographer. However, studying Geography has made me understand the interrelationships between life on land and in waters too. I never studied Mathematics, only in secondary school.
How do you intend to combine this ability with your discipline?
I want to use my knowledge in Geography and my ingenuity on working with numbers to find solutions to some problems facing the aquatic world.
Has this ‘talent’ of yours impacted your life in any way?
Yes. It has connected me with new people, particularly those who are interested in my talent and willing to help me grow.
What has been the reaction of your family and friends towards your ‘talent’?
To be honest with you, they are still surprised till today. For instance, I might be working on something, and my younger sister, out of nowhere, asks me “Hey bro, how do you do this?” It’s that funny. Even my friends thought I was an alien or robot.
20-year-old Indian, Neelkantha Bhanu Prakash is called the “World’s Fastest Human Calculator”, what are your thoughts about him?
Bhanu has really made name for himself, and that, for me, is a good one. But Tella Omojolade is a monster at what he does. I’ve learnt that multiplication, addition, subtraction and division are very important elements of being a human calculator. I see beyond that, anyway. I’m presently working on understanding how everyday numbers work — from 0-9. I doubt if there’s anything that makes me happy than making new discoveries with numbers. For me, figures have become an obsession, addiction and the love of my life.
What are your future plans?
I want to work as an academic. The reason is that I want to impact lives with my gift by helping those who possess this same talent to understand that multiplying, adding, subtracting and dividing are just primary things they need to know. There is more to it. I plan to publish my discovery on numbers in the nearest future.
