Latest news with #MercyMutaleMotey
CBC
04-06-2025
- General
- CBC
N.S. boy, 6, who just joined Mensa started multiplying as a toddler
A six-year-old boy from Bedford, N.S., has gained membership into one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Elijah Kodzo Motey is one of 50 Nova Scotians who've been accepted into Mensa International, a high-IQ society for people who score in the top two per cent of standardized intelligence tests. "We are so proud, we're so excited," said his mother, Mercy Mutale Motey, in an interview. "I think we are still in shock in some ways." Elijah is the youngest of three children in his family. His parents said they started seeing clues of his intelligence early on. At the age of two, he would spell complicated words on the fridge with magnets. He taught himself to read and write as a toddler. At daycare, he would lead storytime — reading to his fellow young classmates. Math came naturally, too. "He would be doing three times tables — three, six, nine and 12. And he was like two years old," his mother said. "It was just remarkable to be able to watch." Mensa membership shoo-in The Moteys wanted to make sure they could provide Elijah with the resources and support he'd need as a gifted child, so they turned to Mensa. Since the non-profit organization only tests people who are 14 and older, Elijah's parents had him tested by a psychologist. Those results were sent to Atlantic Mensa, a chapter for members from Canada's East Coast. Elijah's father, Delali Motey, said he wasn't surprised that Elijah was accepted into the society. "Knowing how he was with math and his intelligence level, we were confident," he said. Favourite subjects include math, gym and reading Elijah attends an elementary school that falls under the province's French school board, Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. His parents have a French language background and they try to speak at least two languages with their children at home. What does Elijah like most about school? "Math for solving questions," he said. "Gym for running around and the library for reading." At school, he added, "I can be smart and intelligent." Mensa 'not a bunch of snobs' Barry Schmidel, the Atlantic regional representative on the board of Mensa Canada, said the organization started as a way to provide a community for people "who are highly intelligent." "I have a peer group now that I wouldn't have had before if I wasn't a member," he said. "I know people who may disagree with me politically or on social issues or whatever, but who I can have an intelligent conversation with." "We're not a bunch of snobs," he added. Elijah's mom said she believes it's important for parents to advocate for their children, no matter their skill level. She's in regular contact with the school's principal and vice-principal to make sure Elijah is challenged correctly. As for the future, she said it's too early to say what lies ahead for her son. "We really want him to explore what he loves and enjoys," she said. "He is so enthusiastic about the things that he enjoys and because of his skills he's able to pick up almost anything."
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Six-year-old N.S. genius becomes Mensa Canada member
There's a young genius taking the world by storm in his hometown of Bedford, N.S. Elijah 'Kodjo' Motey may only be six years old, but he's already thinking far beyond his years. 'He rolled over from tummy to back really early, like before four weeks. And I remember looking and thinking, 'Well, that's interesting because kids don't typically roll over that early,'' says his mother Mercy Mutale Motey. Little did his parents know it would be just one out of a long list of things Elijah would do so early. 'Between 10 and 12 months…he was walking and so he's just always been reaching these milestones very early. Before he was around a year old, he had a fascination with numbers. He loved numbers. He was counting all of the time,' says his mother. 'He actually had more numbers than words at that point.' From there, Elijah's parents started thinking of ways to harness his November 2024, Elijah was accepted into Mensa Canada at the age of five. 'It's only the top two per cent of the population, so you would have to have 98 percentile to belong to Mensa,' says Millie Norry, Mensa Canada's vice president of membership. Elijah was too young for Mensa to test him, so his parents arranged a private test and his results were stunning. 'His scores were found to be in the top one per cent of the population for his age,' says his mother. It made Elijah one of eight children under 14 years old in the Atlantic region to become a Mensa member. 'I remember (Elijah's mom) crying when the documents came in,' says Delali Motey, Elijah's father. 'It wasn't a surprise. It became an expectation at that point, and it was just a matter of time just to go through that process…but it was still really, amazing to get that confirmation.' Nowadays, Elijah spends his time juggling his passion for numbers and his love for soccer. 'My favorite team in the country is Chelsea. My favorite one in the Champions League is Munich,' says Elijah. Elijah plays at the U9 level and earlier this month participated in a kids tournament for the Halifax Wanderers. 'I made it all the way to the finals, but I lost,' he says. In many ways, he's just like any six-year-old. His favourite food is pancakes and he loves playing with his friends. With undeniable talent running through his veins, his parents say the sky is the limit for Elijah, and his two older siblings. 'What we hope for all our kids, including Elijah, is to flourish where their interests and their strengths are,' says Elijah's father. Encouraging their children everyday is one of many jobs Mercy and Delali Motey take pride in. Mercy is from Zambia, and Delali is from Ghana. They've made it a point to pass along their African identity and their faith to their children. 'Every morning and every evening we're telling them, you know, how amazing they are, how special and unique they are, how they're so talented, and they're going to do amazing things in this world,' says Elijah's mother. Elijah 'Kodjo' Motey Elijah 'Kodjo' Motey, centre, is now a member of Mensa Canada. (Source: Vanessa Wright/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
