It was all excitement as parents and students cheered at the 20th Annual National Mathematics Competition Awards (ANMC) by the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) in Abuja on Thursday.
So far, ANMC has produced exceptional students: the first was Vincent Anioke, the 2006 winner; Henry Aniobi (2007); Ayomide Bamidele (2008) and Chioma Opara (2016).
In this year’s contest, 22 students and teachers got scholarships and cash prizes. Gold medallists got 100 per cent scholarship that includes uniforms, accommodation and feeding. There were cash prizes for teachers and a computer set for their respective schools, while another category got a 50 per cent waiver on tuition fees, among other prizes.
ANMC is the largest and yearly competition organised for math enthusiasts in Primaries 5, 6 and JSS 3 by NTIC in collaboration with the National Mathematics Centre (NMC) to recognise the achievements of outstanding young minds in mathematics.
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About 10,000 students participated in the first round across various states, but 22 outstanding students were awarded.
The Managing Director of NTIC, Fevzullah Bilgin, said with the contest, outstanding young mathematics enthusiasts were picked and nurtured to become strong and proficient in the sciences.
He said, “Today, we have awarded 22 students with scholarships; 16 are from the South while six are from the North.”
While noting that mathematics was a critical part of modern life, and that its importance could not be overstated, he said, “It provides us with the tools to understand the world around us and make informed decisions that affect our lives and the lives of others, and this is what the Annual National Mathematics Competition revolves around.”
Bilgin disclosed that organising the programme cost around N50m, noting that, “Apart from finance, our biggest investment is the scholarship programme, and we have about 140 students who are currently benefiting from the programme, and with this we are investing about N300m yearly in Nigeria on scholarships for bright students.”
Nwakuche Festus of Pyramid Learning Academy, Anambra State, emerged the overall best gold medallist with a score of 96.88 per cent; Amah Chibuike of Diamond Special School, Imo State, came second with 95.48 per cent, while Mofiyinfoluwa Joshua of St Saviour Schools, Lagos State, came third with 95.36 per cent.
Other gold medallists include Penelope Attah of Learn At Ease School, Abuja (94.98 per cent), Ebube Victor of Evergreen School, Enugu, (95.29 per cent), Oluchukwu Tochi of Pleroma International School, Rivers (95.24 per cent), and Afamefula Gamaleiel from Dream Towers School, Ebonyi (95.21 per cent).
The silver category with 50 per cent waiver award value had four students scoring around the 94 per cent range.
Also, two students got awards in the category of JSS 3 to SS1, with Chukwunwike Ezebube of NTIC, Wuse, Abuja, with a score of 91 per cent; and Munachi Enekweizu of Regent College, Onitsha, with 67 per cent.
The overall best gold medallist, Festus, who also received cash awards from guests, said he felt great to have emerged winner as it took him years of practice.
Festus also had an extra teacher who played a key role alongside his school teachers to help him achieve success.
For Ezebube, an award winner from NTIC, Abuja, it also took him a lot of time as he started practicing mathematics from his Primary 5 and participated in the competition in primary school and was also happy to do it again in JSS 3.
He advised other students not to run away from math, saying, “It is important in our various aspects of life, and if we all know the necessity of math in our lives, it will be easy for us to catch up.”
A parent, Mrs Vivian Nwabu Oluchi, whose son received an award, said it meant much to her because he was her only son.
She said, “I am excited that he has brought me to Abuja for this competition and that we are going home with an award.”
In his remarks, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, who was at the event, said: “We know what mathematics means in education, and I am happy children are encouraged to pursue a career in mathematics.”
While commending NTIC for the endeavour, he said it was naive not to accept what NTIC was doing for the children.
He further said the competition would push children very high and that he hoped to see the private sector participating in such endeavour through NMC, noting that, “I would like to see more exposure and support, especially by the private sector.”
