TMCnet News
Public School Student Emerges National Maths ChampionJul 07, 2011 (Vanguard/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- In what seemed a rare departure from what had been happening in recent past, the winner of the senior category in the 2011 Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition came from a public school. Sixteen years old Akindele Nurein Oyetobi of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State emerged the national champion. He took first position out of over 34,000 students who entered the contest in both junior and senior categories across the country. The best 30 students in Nigeria who exhibited exceptional aptitude for mathematics in the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) have been honoured and rewarded at a prize giving ceremony held in the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Abuja. The contest was open to all secondary school students studying in the country who are in JSS 3 (for the Junior category) and SS2 (for the senior category) aged 10-18 years. Over 11,000 schools and more than 34,000 students participated in the competition in 200 centres across the federation and which has continuously expanded in scope and horizon over the years since 2001 when it began. In his welcome address, Chief Keith Richards, Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, sponsoring the competition, said the primary objective of this CSR (Corporte Social Responsibility) initiative is to arouse and re-awaken the interest in mathematics amongst secondary school students as a road map to nation building. He noted that the current pass rates for mathematics in WAEC and NECO poses a huge challenge not only to the teachers, schools and the relevant government agencies, but also to all parents, Nigerians and well meaning companies and organisations like Promasidor, who have taken it upon themselves to support relevant stakeholders in stemming this tide. "Promasidor sees this, not only as a fight for our future as individuals but rather as a fight for the collective future of our beloved country Nigeria." Richards commended the level of commitment shown by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in educational sector reforms, especially in organising an educational stakeholders summit (October 2010), setting up the Presidential Task Force on Education with a clear mandate to review the implementation of the 6-3-3-4 educational system (January 2011), and just last month, the task force submitted its report. He told the gathering that the best 30 students will become COWBELL NASSMAC AMBASSADOR in their respective schools and communities adding that the top two students in the senior category will also be sponsored by Promasidor to represent Nigeria at the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad. To the students who participated in NASSMAC, he said: "We appreciate the time, effort, diligence and dedication you put in while preparing for NASSMAC. You all worked very hard and have proven to yourselves and everyone that hard work pays. We are supremely confident that this achievement will continue to nourish your dreams and make positive difference in your life." The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Professor Nicholas Damachi, represented by Director-General, Basic and Secondary Education Department, Mrs. Mabel Ozumba, praised Cowbell for what it is doing and hoped that Nigeria will meet all its objectives in Millennium Development Goals. A call was made for partnership between government and the private sector in the development of education as Cowbell has set the pace already, with the sustainability of NASSAMAC for 11 years now. "There had been no leakage of question papers, which is hallmark of integrity. Mathematics so strategic, thanks for changing the story. For equity, look for ways in which more girls can participate. There should be gender equity and looking forward to more partnership," she said. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Dere Awosika, represented by Barrister Ijeoma Ndukwe, pledged support to Cowbell in encouraging girls to know mathematics; because girls need special help as they are slow learners. Professor Sam Ale, D-G, National Mathematics Centre (NMC) Abuja, said Cowbell is the first non-governmental organisation to establish a competition in mathematics which had been spectacular which made Nigeria's victory at the Mathematics Olympiad come through. He referred to the beauty of mathematics calling it the "Beautiful Queen that was never loved," a subject that holds all other subjects together. Once you know mathematics,you know all others, including Chemistry, Physics, Accounting, Economics, Biology, etc. The winner in the senior category is Akindele Nurein Oyetobi, 16 years old from Iganmode Grammar School, Ogun State who scored 96 per cent to emerge first. He went home with N300,000 and a laptop. Second was Amuta Tope Victor, 15 years old, of Greater Tomorrow International College, Ikare, Ondo State, who scored 91 per cent, and got N250,000 plus laptop. Third position went to Nwokotuba Charles, 13 years, of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, scoring 83 per cent. He got N200,000 and laptop. Their teachers were also given money. In the junior level 13 years old Momoh Abdulrazaq of Charles dale Memorial International school, Rivers State, came first with 94 per cent, given N250,000, second place Agbonifo Emmanuel Ehinomen, 14 years, scored 75 per cent to go home with N200,000, from DSC Technical High School, Aladja, Delta State. The third position was taken by 13 years old Aghaji Ugochuckwu of Bethany Christian Academy, Barkin Ladi, Plateau State who scored 72 per cent and received N150,000. All of them in both categories are the National Prize winners while also there were winners at state levels who received cash prizes - from N25,000, N20,000 and N15,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. The National Champions and their Mathematics teachers in both categories will be sponsored on an all expense paid vacation. Winning schools as well got prizes as follows: 1st prize: 5 Desktop Computers and Printer 2nd Prize: 3 Desktop Computers and Printer 3rd Prize: 1 Desktop Computer and Printer. Plus 100 Branded chairs and tables for both junior and senior categories. |