By Abike Sanusi
Students of Graceland International School, Rivers, Port Harcourt, Agbo Adoga and Joseph Okechukwu have won the 2023 Cowbellpedia Mathematics TV quiz competition.The duo won the junior and senior category respectively.
For their feat, Adoga and Okechukwu won N5 million each, a trip to South Africa, and a one-year supply of Cowbell products.
It had massive participation from over 1,000 schools across the country, as innovative programmes such as Fastest Finger and Chest of Fortune added a thrilling dimension to the competition, testing not just mathematical prowess but also quick thinking and creative problem-solving.
Speaking on the feat, the duo attributed their victory to hard work and dedication during the championship.
Read Also; Fed Govt to save N500m annually from FAAN relocation, says Keyamo
They said the most challenging part of the competition was the last stage.
Okechukwu said: “Everybody in my class took a test, out of 20 of us, five were selected and qualified for the competition, we had classes and lessons. The hardest thing was the finals because like, at first, I was one of the last, but later, due to the zone of power and the questions from The Cowbellpedia Bank, I was able to get the first position. I made so many friends from the competition and also got so much experience.”
Winner of the junior category, Adoga, said from the preliminary stage, he knew he would win the competition.
“For my class, we all wrote an exam and then they selected a topic. Then we resumed for the 10th day of our session. We were going through some classes and were doing exams. Five of us qualified to participate. I’m very good at Maths and plenty of other subjects.The hardest part for me was the final round, which was the intuition round. It was a test of perseverance and resilience. I learned so much and made valuable friendships along the way. I aim to further my studies,” he said.
Winners who emerged in secondplace junior and senior category received the sum of N3,000,000 each and one year supply of Cowbell products each, the student in thirdplace received N2,000,000 each and one year supply of Cowbell products each, the one who placed forth received N500,000, while teachers and parents also won amazing cash prizes and one year supply of Cowbell products too. The winners from the parents’ episodes won N500,000 each for both senior and junior categories, while the 1st and 2nd runners-up won N400,000 and N300,000 respectively.
In the same vein, the winners from the teachers’ episodes won N1,000,000 each (and a brand-new laptop) for both senior and junior categories, while the 1st and 2nd runners-up won N500,000 and N250,000 respectively. Additionally, all winners received a one-year supply of Cowbell products.
Marketing Director, Promasidor, Adebola Williams, said: “Cowbellpedia is a celebration of educational excellence. It’s not about competition. It’s bringing the brightest and the best from all around our secondary schools together to compete. A total of 132 students were selected from over 1,000 students from different schools across the country to participate in computer-based tests. These selected students eventually came to the studio, and they showed us how brilliant they are. And from this selection, we have the winners, whom we are celebrating today.
“We are convinced that the additional features that were included into this year’s Cowbellpedia TV Quiz Show is in line with our aim to expand the scope of the programme. Aside from expanding to the knowlege areas, we also looked at different angles of how we can test the knowledge of the children. So, we have the fastest finger, for instance, where all the participants come and the first eight people (out of 11) to get the answer move on to the next round. This is testing their wit; it’s testing how fast they can respond to questions. We also have Chest of Fortune, for instance, where they have to solve puzzles, mathematical puzzles, to win a cash prize of N250,000 right in the heat of the competition”
The Category Manager, Dairy, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Donatus Ukpai, said it’s been 25 years since the company has been supporting academic excellence.
“Cowbellpedia is dedicated to showcasing the dreams and aspirations of students and the younger generation, ‘‘ he said.
We will not stop at this as we have come a long way. It’s been 25 years that we have been supporting academic excellence and we would like to take this to the next level.
“We would like to let you know that Cowbellpedia is not just a contest but rather, a symbol for excellence, and a platform built to bring great minds together. The performance from the recently completed Cowbellpedia shows that these students have great quality, and they are all winners. It is good to see that, with the brightest of the minds that we have seen in display from the competition, Nigerians are in safe hands, and we are excited to share your excellence and by extension Nigeria is privileged to have you”