•Cowbell kings, Charles and Tobechukwu with Chief Keith Richards at the event Pix: Sun News Publishing

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The race for the 2009 cowbell mathematics crown ended on a colourful note recently as the champions were honoured at an award presentation ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

It was indeed a rewarding day for the 20 champions comprising the 10 best students each from the Junior and Senior categories at the final stage of the 2009 Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASMAC). Their teachers were also rewarded for producing brilliant students. They received N20, 000 each in addition to branded items and cowbell milk products.

The first prize winner in the senior secondary school category 16-year-old Tobechukwu Onuegbu of Charismatic Renewal Ministries International College, Owerri, Imo State who scored 70 per cent, smiled home with the sum of N130, 000, a laptop computer, a trophy, certificate, plaque and a medal. His school got 200 classroom tables and chairs, mathematics text books and metal sign post.

Chukuemeka Arene of Loyola Jesuit College Abuja, clinched the second position with a total score of 67 per cent. For his effort, he received a laptop computer, the sum of N100, 000 a trophy, medal as well as branded gift items from cowbell. His school got mathematics textbooks and metal sign post.
The third position went to Jane Francis Uwalaka of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State. She scored 59 per cent and was rewarded with the sum of N100, 000, a medal, plaque and branded gift items from cowbell, while her school got mathematics textbooks and metal sign post.

In the Junior category, 11-year-old Charles Nwokotubo of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, emerged the first prize winner with a total score of 90 per cent. He was the cynosure of all eyes at the event, the smallest but the King of champions. He received the sum of N130, 000, a trophy, plaque, certificate and branded gift items while his school got 200 classroom chairs and tables, mathematics textbooks and metal sign post.

Al Amin Bugaje of Nigerian Turkish International Boys College, Kaduna who scored 63 per cent and Miss Chisom Okafor of Loyola Jesuit College Abuja with 59 per cent came second and third respectively. Bugaje was given a cash award of N100, 000 while Okafor got N75, 000 in addition to medals, plaques, certificates, and branded items from cowbell. Their schools got mathematics textbooks and metal sign posts.

There were consolation prizes of 15, 000 each for the fourth to 10th place winners in both categories. They also got certificates, medals and other gift items. The 20 champions also got branded jackets.
Dority International School, Aba won this year’s Benson Oweka Memorial prize for the most consistent outstanding performance average over a three- year-period 2007-2009. The prize was instituted in memory of the late Benson Oweka, the pioneer brand manager of the company who died in a plane crash while on official duty. Every student in the winning school will receive a pack of six branded higher education notebooks and biros.

An elated Tobechukwu who wants to be an aeronautical engineer said: “I feel happy and excited about it, I give God the glory”.
The first of his parent’s children, he said he was inspired and encouraged by his parents and teachers. He advised students who dread the subject to embrace it
His mother Dr. Ngozi Onuegbu who teaches Food Sciences at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri was on hand to share in his joy. She said the family was expectant and had worked hard with the teacher to ensure his success.

On his part, Charles was not very happy with his 90 per cent score, the highest in the competition. The second of four children, he said he was expecting a 100 per cent score. His mother, Mrs Celine Nwokotubo, described him as a genius who excels wherever he goes.

In his remark, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Keith Richards said the competition was instituted in 1998 as a Corporate Social Responsibility project of the company to generally improve the performance in Mathematics in Nigeria, create a credible platform for identifying outstanding students and encourage the recognition of exceptional ability.
He told the gathering made up of stakeholders in the education sector and corporate bodies that the competition was first conducted in Lagos state in 1998.

“By the year 2000, it extended to six states, Anambra, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo and Imo states.
In 2001, the scope of the competition was increased, this making it a national programme, covering the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

According to him, a total of 16, 137 students sat for the examination this year in 130 centres across the federation on Saturday March 14, 2009. After the first stage of the competition, the best 74 candidates two in each category from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory sat for the final examination on Monday May 18, 2009 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said: “Today we are celebrating the best 20 students who have distinguished themselves and have exhibited exceptional aptitude for mathematics. We will be regarding them as cowbell Ambassadors in their respective schools, local government areas, States, and Nigeria as a whole.”
He explained that the prizes for this year’s edition have been upgraded to create excitement and sustain interest in the competition.

Mr. Richard, maintained that the prizes demonstrate the company’s unwavering commitment to uplifting educational standards in the country.
Hear him: “It is our joy to share this burden with the government because they alone can not do it, knowing its enormous requirement for the huge investments in capital and human resources to nourish the various objectives of a decent and civilized society.”
While expressing the hope that the students would continue to take advantage of the competition to enhance their potentials as future leaders, he thanked the various stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the success of the competition.

Also speaking, the Director General of the National Mathematical Institute, Abuja, Professor Sam Ale who was represented by Professor Adewale Solarin said cowbell champions fall into the 10 best competitors in mathematics competitions at the international level adding that since 2006, the medals from international competition were won by students who participated in NASMAC.
He congratulated Promasidor for consistently organising the competition and training students for international competitions.

In an address read on her behalf by the Minister of State for Education Hajia Aishatu Dukku, the First Lady Dr Turai Yar’Adua said: “I am delighted to be here today as part of the process of making mathematics the number one choice of subject for students at the Basic and Secondary School levels.”
She maintained that the company has over the years demonstrated its resolve to contribute to the advancement of mathematics education in Nigeria through the competition which has endeared the organisation to the Federal Ministry of Education, all states Ministries of Education as well as other agencies in the country.

While noting that investment in science is vital to developing nations, she addeded that a country that neglects science education for its citizens, does so at its own peril.
She said: “We are glad to observe that in pursuit of the 7-Point Agenda of the Yar’Adua administration, the federal Ministry of Education is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to make Nigeria a nation of educated people with particular emphasis on mathematics and science education.

This is the only way we believe organisations such as Promasidor, the Federal and State Ministries of Education and other agencies can achieve the Millennium Development Goals within the time frame set”.
She lamented that the persistent poor performance of students in science related subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology among others continues to pose serious concerns to parents and the government.

As a way of addressing the problem, she said the government will continue to support national competitions, talent hunts and quizzes for students through co-operation, encouragement and finding.
She urged Promasidor to continue with the initiative to rekindle and sustain interest in the study of mathematics.

The First lady emphasized that for the vision 2020 to become a reality, efforts must be geared towards science education, training and development which she identified as the bedrock of development.
While assuring the company of the federal government’s support, she commended the Managing Director and his team for honouring the mathematics champions.