The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Ondo State have registered their presence at the semi-final stage of the on-going 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, sponsored by Cowbell Milk, the leading brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
In the preliminary Group D of the junior category, Chiedozie Uzochukwu of Nigerian Tulip International College, Abuja got the semi-final ticket for FCT, while Ayomiposi Adiji of Preston International School, Akure, Ondo State and Amarachukwu Aronu of The Ambassadors College Ota, Ogun State advanced to the next stage in the senior category.
While Gabriel Akogun of Welkin International School, Ota, Ogun State joined Chiedozie in the junior category semi-finals. However, Timi Charles-Okhide of Federal Government Girls College, Imiringi, Bayelsa State; Fatima Musa Machina of Elkanemi College, Maiduguri, Borno State; Janet Ode of Scholars College, Ota, Ogun State; and Lotoni Adewara of Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College, Ilorin, Kwara State were not that lucky.
Chiedozie, 14-year-old, who scored 100 per cent in the qualifying examination held in February, explained that his parents fired the interest of Mathematics in him. He disclosed that he spends six hours every day to study to expel the fear of Mathematics in him. “My goal is to win the completion and I will be very happy if I win because a victory will be a good compensation for all my efforts,” he said.
While Gabriel who scored 97 per cent in the qualifying examination wants to study aeronautic engineering and he is confident about his ability to win the ultimate prize.
Ayomiposi, son of a medical doctor and a teacher, disclosed that his love for numbers made him to like Mathematics, as he described his experience in the competition as fantastic.
As a second timer in the competition, he was confident of victory this time around. “I have been here before. This time, I have come to win. I know with God on my side I will be victorious,” Ayomiposi, who also aspires to become an aeronautic engineer, said.
Amarachukwu, who wants to study engineering, was very happy to have reached the semi-finals. He promised to work harder on his speed and accuracy for the next stage, especially the 60 seconds of fame. “I must not allow pressure to get over me because I really need to win the ultimate prize to make my parent glad,” he said.
Participants who dropped out in the senior category were: Ajayi Ayomide of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha Osun State; Khalil Balarabe of Governors College Kano, Kano State; Munachimso Onuoha of Whitesands School Lekki, Lagos State; and Victor Ohoke of Twelve Apostles College, Sharon, Ebonyi State
To commemorate the milestone edition of the competition, the prize money has been doubled as winners in both senior and junior categories will receive N2 million each plus an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country, while the first and second runners-up will each receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.
The teachers of the top prize winners will be awarded N500,000 each, while those of the first and second runners-up will each receive N400,000 and N300,000 respectively.
Also, each of the winning schools will be presented with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
The 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematic TV Quiz continues this weekend.
It will be aired to millions of viewers on DSTv Africa Magic Family Channel and other six television stations across the country.
