Her full name is Imachibundu Oluwadara Onuzo – Oluwadara because her mother is Yoruba; Imachibundu because my father is Igbo. Chibundu who grew up in a very quiet estate in Lagos, attended Corona in Gbagada. Both her parents are doctors and are still practising. She then proceeded to Atlantic Hall and after three years there she proceeded to St. Swithuns, a school in Winchester

Onuzo joins a line of Nigerian writers, with many comparing her to Chimanda Ngozi Adichie  “It’s obviously a great compliment to be compared to her but objectively, I think our writing styles and subject matter are very different. I can see why people would make the link though. We’re both Nigerian. We’re both women and we both have natural hair.”

In a nutshell, Chibundu Onuzo started writing her first book aged 17, got an agent at 18, became the youngest female to sign to publishing giant Faber & Faber at 19, and released her first book, The Spider's King Daughter at 21. All whilst studying for a history degree at Kings College London. It's an enviable track record.

If we looked at statistics such as those from the annual VIDA: Women in Literature Arts which maps the number of female-authored books or reviews featured in major publications, we’d disappointingly made the decision that a literary glass ceiling still exists for women. But people like Onuzo blow that theory out of the water.

So what makes Onuzo’s experience different to so many other aspiring female writers? Her story begins with where she was born and raised; in Nigeria, West Africa. The youngest of four children, she reminisces on her childhood warmly.

“It was a sunny childhood, literally and figuratively. Many members of my extended family lived with us at one point or the other so I grew up with a lot of older siblings.”

Onuzo started writing in primary school – attempting her first ever novel aged 10 when many other kids haven't fully grasped reading yet. “I wanted to be a concert pianist when I was a child and many other things which I have now forgotten. I attempted my first novel when I was 10. I read a lot and I suppose it’s natural for a reader to at some point to think of trying their hand at writing a book.”

Coming from a family of doctors, lawyers, economists and engineers – what a background – it would have been easy to follow the footsteps of the family line, but Onuzo’s craft was encouraged and she started to pursue writing seriously, without any hang-ups or knowledge on how hard it was to get published. With the idealistic naivety that comes with youth, Onuzo assumed that agents would be knocking on her door, only to find that her work was readily back on the ‘slush pile’.

However, her optimism prevailed. One day she heard back from an agent that had read the first few chapters of her book and had sent an email requesting the rest of the book. “I remember screaming and jumping up and down, saying 'I’m going to be a writer.' It was a huge affirmation.”

Despite her joy, many people she knew turned their nose up at the idea of Onuzo writing a book at such a young age. The book is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of a changing Lagos. Onuzo already has a lot to be proud of – her literary accolades include being shortlisted for the 2013 Commonwealth Book Prize, being shortlisted for the 2012 Dylan Thomas Prize and shortlisted for the Desmond Elliot prize in the same year.

So her advice to aspiring writers? “Don’t let anyone tell you that your youth means that your perspective of the world is not valid.” Now 24, Onuzo hasn’t let the limelight get to her head preferring to see her achievements as ‘highlight’s in her life.

Onuzo is already working on her second book (top secret, she smiles), whilst planning her return to King’s College to do a PhD in history once she completes her Masters. Onuzo hopes one day to help shape the future of Nigeria by running for public office, but until then it’s back to revision and exams for the young star.