The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cowbellpedia

  • I practise Mathematics for 10 hours daily to sharpen my skill – Cowbellpedia contestant

    Relentless preparation and long hours of practice are crucial requirement for excellent results in mathematics competition.”

    This is the submission of Israel Adegboyega, a participant in the on-going 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, sponsored by Cowbell Milk, the flagship brand from Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

    Israel, a student of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State, explained that success in mathematics demands preparation and determination in order to overcome the initial fear that scare a lot of students.

    “The magic is that students that are not very good at mathematics should try and practice it more often in order to improve. For instance, ahead of this competition, I practised mathematics for about 10 hours daily,” he said.

    He advised his fellow students to ignore the perception of mathematics being challenging, adding that the subject nurtures the individual’s power reasoning, creativity, abstract or spatial thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving ability and even effective communication skills.

    In the senior category preliminary group B contest last weekend, Israel and Isinkaye Praise of Federal Government Academy Suleja, Niger State, qualified for the semi-finals after squaring up against Fakorede Olufunmbi of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State, and Vincent Ezeanyagu of Baptist High School, Naraguta-Jos, Plateau State.

    Other contestants at the preliminary stage included Adegbamiye Oluwagbemiga of Reality High School, Ilesha, Osun State and Haruna Hassan Kabaju of Nigerian Tulip International College for Boys, Damaturu, Yobe State.

    Israel, a first timer in the competition, is confident of his chances. “My expectation is to be the champion. Cowbellpedia remains my ultimate dream,” he told journalists outside the studio in Lagos last week.

    Praise, who could not make it beyond the preliminary round two years ago, hopes to qualify for the finals and win the ultimate prize this time around. “I feel cool scaling this hurdle. I really thank God, but my ultimate ambition is to be the 2018 Cowbellpedia champion,” she said.

    In the junior category, Benny Sampson-Uche of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Jefferson Ejaife of DSC Aladja, Delta State, pulled through to the semi-finals.

    This was achieved at the expense of Otutochi Nwadinkpa of Nigerian Tulip International College for Boys, Abuja; Oyongwo Gwanette of Britarch Secondary School, Umuahia, Abia State; Festus Ebarekor of University Preparatory Secondary School, Benin, Edo State; and Mustapha Mohammed of Jigawa State Academy for the Gifted, Bamaina, Jigawa State.

    Benny who garnered 145 points in the second round is described as “small but mighty”. The 13-year-old believes he has all it takes to emerge the 2018 champion and make his school and state proud following the footsteps of his school mate, Jessey Uche-Nwichi, the 2017 junior champion.

    The 2018 edition is significant as it marks the 20th anniversary of Cowbell and mathematics. Prizes have been doubled in the spirit of the celebration.

    The winner of each category will receive N2 million with an all-expenses paid educational excursion outside the country, while the first and second runners-up will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.

     

     

     

  • Rivers, Delta in Cowbellpedia semi-finals

    Benny Sampson-Uche of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Jefferson Ejaife of DSC Technical High School, Aladja, Delta State are in the semi-finals of the 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, junior secondary category.

    They saw off stiff competitions from Otutochi Nwadinkpa of Nigerian Tulip International College for Boys, Abuja; Oyongwo Gwanette of Britarch Secondary School, Umuahia, Abia State; Festus Ebarekor of University Preparatory Secondary School, Benin, Edo State; and Mustapha Muhammad of Jigawa State Academy for the Gifted, Bamaina, Jigawa State in the first and second rounds of Group B preliminary stage to secure two slots for the Southsouth region.

    Benny, who scored 145 points in the second round, had an average response time of 1.88 seconds; while Jefferson, who qualified with 120, responded in 1.57 seconds.

    Thirteen-year-old Benny, described as “small but mighty” thinks he has what it takes to lift the trophy, which is worth N2 million this year for each category in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the competition.

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited also increased the reward money for the first and second runners-up to N1.5 million and N1 million, and those for teachers of the winners (from N300,000 to N500,000 for the top three).  In addition, each of the winning schools will be presented with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.

    Jefferson is also confident he can be in the final.

    “I feel very happy to scale the hurdle, especially being my first time of participating in the competition. I hope to get to the final. I have done a lot of prayers and practice,” he said.

    In the senior category, Praise Isinkaye of the Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State, and Israel Adegboyega of Scholars Universal Secondary School Ota, Ogun State got the semi-final slots ahead of Fakorede Oluwafunmbi of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State; Vincent Ezeanyagu of Baptist High School, Naraguta-Jos, Plateau State; Adegbamiye Oluwagbemiga of Reality High School, Ilesha, Osun State and Haruna Hassan Kabaju of Nigerian Tulip International College for Boys, Damaturu, Yobe State.

    Praise is happy to be in the semi-final this time around.  Two years ago, as a junior pupil, she could not go beyond the preliminary.  But she does not plan to go back home from the semis.

    “I feel cool scaling this hurdle. I really thank God, but my ultimate ambition is to be the 2018 Cowbellpedia champion,” she said.

    Israel is no push over as well.  Though it is his first time in the competition, he has his eyes on the ultimate prize.

    “My expectation is to be the champion. Cowbellpedia remains my ultimate dream,” he said last week.

    The quiz show continues this weekend.

  • Rivers, Ogun, top qualifiers’ chart for 2018 Cowbellpedia exam results

    WITH 15 candidates in the second stage, Ogun State excelled in the 2018 Cowbellpedia Qualifying Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO). Following closely was Rivers State with 10 candidates while Osun State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja had five candidates each In all, 41,735 students sat for the qualifying examination held on Saturday, February 17, 2018 to participate in the competition which is being sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited. The junior category had 21,585 candidates, while the remaining 20,150 were senior secondary school students.

  • Rivers, Abuja lead as NECO releases 2018 Cowbellpedia qualifying exam results

    THREE perfect scores from two schools highlighted the release of the results of the 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show qualifying examination by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

    According to the results released, the students with 100 percent scores are in the junior category. They are Favour Okarike and Benny Sampson from Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Chiedozie Okezie Uzochukwu of Nigerian Tulip International College, Abuja.

    Candidates are expected to check their results on the Cowbellpedia portal at www.cowbellpedia.ng Promasidor Nigeria Limited has felicitated with Muslims in the country on the on-going Ramadan fast.

    It is obligatory for Muslims to fast during the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar (Hijrah), an act, that is the fourth pillar of Islam.

    Ramadan is not just merely meant to stay without food or drinks, it provides an opportunity to strive for inner purification and inculcate righteousness as well as discipline.

  • Cowbellpedia champ gets scholarship

    •Winner gets $2,500 gifts

    Winner of the first edition of the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show in 2015, Ayodele Akinkuowo, has won a scholarship to study Aeronautic Engineering at the University of Moscow, Russia.

    He is also getting an extra $2,500 from Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk and sponsors of the contest.

    Akinkuowo was a pupil of the Adeyemi College of Education Demonstration Secondary School, Ondo, Ondo State when he won the Cowbellpedia Mathematics competition in November 2015.

    At a reception in his honour in Lagos, Mr. Anders Einarsson, Promasidor’s Managing Director, said the firm was proud of Akinkuowo for being a good Cowbell Ambassador and gave the cash token to support his trip.

    Responding to the gesture, Akinkuowo thanked Promasidor and and promised to do more in all his future endeavours. He said the competition had taught him to be courageous, have faith and hope.

    “The day I won the competition three years ago, my mother wept. When the then Governor Olusegun Mimiko invited me and my parents to the Government House in Akure for doing the state proud, I wept, especially after the governor shook my hand. I can never forget such moments. God and Promasidor have been kind to me. I will never forget,” he said.

    He said winning Cowbellpedia emboldened him to apply for the scholarship.

    “Actually, I got the information from a friend and I collected the form. The process was tough, but I just had this confidence that I can fly. I told my friends that after Cowbellpedia, nothing can scare me again, especially the fact that we were the first set on the TV Quiz Show,” Akinkuowo said.

    He described the scholarship as a dream come.

    “The Civil Engineering, I was studying at the University of Ibadan was actually my second choice. So, when this came, it was, indeed, a dream come true,” he said.

  • Cowbell boost prize for Cowbellpedia winners

    The 2018 edition of Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz show and the search for the next inventor commenced on a high note on Tuesday in Lagos as Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, announced an expansion of the initiative to mark 20 years relationship of Cowbell and Mathematics.

    Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Mr. Anders Einarsson, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria, explained to journalists that this year’s prize money has been doubled as winners in both categories would receive N2, 000,000 with an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country for the winners in both categories while 1st and 2nd runners up will receive N1, 500,000 and N1, 000,000 respectively.

    The teachers of the top prize winners will be awarded N500, 000 while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N400, 000 and N300, 000 respectively. The competition is sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

    In addition, Einarsson informed that the company is launching the Cowbellpedia Academy, a workshop for students and teachers in partnership with a top foreign university to expose participants to new and up-to-date learning techniques required to achieve and improve academic excellence.

    To further sustain the growing interest in Mathematics by the relevant groups, Einarsson disclosed that the company came up with the Cowbellpedia Compendium initiative, which was launched at the event, as part of the 20th anniversary commemorative activities.

    The Cowbellpedia Compendium is a compilation of solved questions from the past Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show editions for each category. This is to improve proficiency of students in Mathematics.

    “This Compendium is our 20th anniversary gift to all students across Nigeria and is available both in hard copy and electronic version. Like in the previous editions, the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show is open to students in JSS 3 and SSS 2 from 10 – 18 years of age attending full time secondary education in both public and private schools across Nigeria, entry to the competition is free. The competition is divided into two phases– Stage 1 Qualifying Written Examination and Stage 2 TV Quiz Show. The Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz show is divided into two sections – Stage 1 Qualifying Written Examination and Stage 2 TV Quiz Show.

    “For the Stage 1, we are continuing with the initiative that we started in 2016 for mixed secondary schools to nominate a minimum of two girls for each category to represent such school. This is our own little way of encouraging the girl child to take interest in education especially the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses,” he said. The Promasidor boss also assured that the company would continue to stimulate the interest of young Nigerians in the study of Mathematics as “Cowbellpedia is a demonstration of our commitment.”

  • Cowbellpedia champions woo pupils

    Cowbellpedia champions woo pupils

    • 2018 Competition opens

    Winners of the 2017 edition of the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz show, Munachi Ernest Eze and Jesse Uche-Nwichi have challenged secondary school pupils to put in their best to win the 2018 edition which opened for registration last week.

    The duo was at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos with the top management of Promasidor Nigeria Limited to announce the opening of the contest.

    They shared their experience winning the competition and how it had helped them.

    Jesse, a pupil of Graceland Secondary School, Port Harcourt, who won the junior category, said the trip to Kenya with his teacher, which was part of his reward, helped him to make up his mind about his future career.

    “I was thinking of software Engineering. That visit to a technology organisation in Kenya encouraged me in it,” he said.

    Munachi, on his part, who won the senior category and also set the record as the first pupil to win both the junior and senior categories of the competition, said the floor was open for any other pupil to achieve what he achieved last year.

    “In 2015, I was a proud national champion of Cowbellpedia and in 2017 I became the champion of champions. Anybody can achieve what I achieved with determination and with the help of God,” said Munachi, a pupil of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja.

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited Managing Director, Mr. Anders Einarsson, said this year’s edition is special because it is 20th anniversary.

    To this end, the company increased the prize money by 100 per cent.  So, the winners of each category will get N2million instead of N1 million.

    The winners will still get their all-expense paid trip to a country in Africa with the new prize money.

    First runners up will now get N1.5million as against N750,000 they won in the past, while the second runners up will get N1million.

    The prize money for the teachers of the top three winners has also changed.  The first will get N500,000; while the second and third will get N400,000 and N300,000.

    Apart from the TV Quiz Show, Einarsson said the competition has also spurned Cowbellpedia Radio (a Mathematics class on radio), Cowbellpedia Mobile App (Mathematics Q&A mobile application) and the Cowbellpedia Compendium – solved questions from past competitions for each category.

    “These platforms have been able to arouse and re-awaken the interest of students in Mathematics at the secondary school level and further reinforced the importance of the subject,” he said.

    Einarsson also said each co-educational school is expected to include two girls as part of their contigent for the competition.

    “This is our own little way of encouraging the girl child to take interest in education especially the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses,” he said.

    Abiodun Ayodeji, Promasidor’s Marketing Manager, said Registration for the stage one of the mathematics competition, which will be a written examination, is ongoing online until February 11, 2018.  The first stage will be written all over the country on February 17, 2018.

    In his remarks, Dr Ikechukwu Anyanwu, Director of Quality Assurance, represented the Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), praised Promasidor for the initiative, which he said has been of tremendous benefits to Mathematics education in Nigeria.

     

  • 16-year old sets Cowbellpedia record

    16-year old sets Cowbellpedia record

    Sixteen-year-old Munachi Ernest-Eze  has become a mathematician to reckon with among secondary school pupils.

    The SS2 pupil of Loyola Jesuit College, Gidan Mangoro Abuja, won the senior category of the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics Television Quiz Show last weekend – repeating the feat he achieved two years ago after winning the junior category of the competition when he was in JSS3.

    He sets a record as the only contestant to win both categories of the competition which held in Just Media Studio, Ogba, Lagos.

    Munachi, who had his eyes on the goal from the start, attributed his success to God.  He said his win consolidated his position as champion.

    “I thank God for the end of the journey today. I am now confident to tell Nigerians that I was a champion and I am a champion again today. God has done it and it is marvelous in my eyes,” he said in an interview.

    Mr Ikechukwu Ernest-Eze was one proud father that day.  It was his second time escorting his son to Lagos for the competition, and second time going home happy.

    He expressed gratitude to God and Promasidor for the double honours.

    Munachi beat to the top prize Oluwanifise Onafowokan of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State, which cleared all six prizes last year. He was rewarded with N1 million while Oluwanifise got N750,000.

    Evans Owamoyo of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo, came third and got N500,000 for his effort.

    The other finalists were: Michael Paul of Excel Grace Academy, Akaajime-Gboko, Benue State; Ikechukwu Ibeh of Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State; and Tomiwa Olatunbosun of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State.

    In the junior category, 13-year-old Jesse Uche-Nwichi of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt in Rivers State came first – defeating Oluwafemi  Adeyanju of Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, and Ezekiel Ekanem of Advanced Breed Group of Schools, Sagamu, Ogun State to the second and third places.

    The other three in the final were: Osasere Egharevba of Graceland International School; Joel Ndoh of Marist Brothers Juniorate, Okigwe, Abia State; and Abdulwakil Olayinka of Nigerian Tulip International College, Kaduna, Kaduna State.

    Uche-Nwichi dedicated his victory to God and his parents, while promising to maintain the momentum.

    His teacher, Olatunde Ayorinde, praised the teenager for making him and the school proud.

    “I thank God for today. My effort has not been in vain. Nothing can be better than this. I am grateful to God, Cowbell and Promasidor,” he said.

    The top three in the junior category were rewarded with the same cash prize as the senior winners.

    Teachers of the top three winners in each category got between N200,000 and N400,000 each.  Their schools also got computers, printers and mathematics textbooks.

    In an interview, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk, Anders Einarsson, said the company remains committed to supporting the education sector, saying it is the most important investment for the future of Nigerian children.

    “The programme has absolutely met its objectives. We are committed to this initiative and by next year, we will celebrate 20 years of Mathematics and Cowbell,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Registrar, National Examination Council (NECO)Prof Charles Uwakwe, pledged NECO’s continued technical support for the competition, praising        Promasidor for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

  • Ogun, Abuja show class at 2017 Cowbellpedia Maths TV Quiz

    Representatives of Ogun, Osun and Abia states the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have cruised into the semi-final of the on-going 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show sponsored by Cowbell.

    In the preliminary group 8 contest last weekend, Chukelu Egboka of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, and Joel Ndoh of Marist Brothers Juniorate Aba, Abia State,  scaled the hurdle in the junior category.

    The duo edged past Charles Abasiofon of Rayfield International Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom; Obichukwu Enibe of University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka, Enugu State; Harry Biobele of Access High School, Calabar, Cross River State and Michael Simon of Air Force Comprehensive School, Yola, Adamawa State.

    Ndoh thanked Cowbell and Promasidor for the “good work and encouragement given to students across the country.” The 14-year-old, who scored 96 percent in the qualifying examination, disclosed that his expectation was to get to the final and win the prize. “My expectation is to get to the final and win, though I don’t know what to do with the money yet,” he said.

    Egboka, who is participating in the competition for the first time, also hopes to win the ultimate prize. “My expectation is to win. And if I win, I will take my family out for a special dinner and save the rest of the money,” he told newsmen outside the studio in Lagos last week.

    In the senior category, Favour Abusomwan of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State, and Blessing Olaleye of Reality High School, Ilesha, Osun State, also crossed the hurdles into the semi-finals.

    They eliminated Akanyo Ebipade of Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State and Oreoluwa Arosanyin of Chapel Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State. Others who did not make it were Saudat Ayuba of Kunatu Science Academy, Kano, Kano State, and Samson Madamidola of Global Kids Academy, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

    The ultimate prize in the senior and junior categories is N1 million each and an all-expenses-paid educational excursion outside the country. The first and second runners-up for each category will go home with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

    Each teacher of the 2017 champions will be awarded N400,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. Also, the winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.

  • ‘I solve maths to relax’

    Cowbellpedia contestant, Oluwanifise Onafowokan, is looking to repeat the feat achieved by her school, The Ambassador School, Ota, Ogun State, in last year’s edition of the competition.

    Her school won all six prizes in the junior and senior categories of the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show sponsored by Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, makers of Cowbell.

    She is confident she can succeed Ayooluwa Oguntade, who won the senior category of the competition last year.

    Onafowokan is well in the race to win the crown, having made it to the semi final of the competition.

    She said long hours of work and practice deepened her knowledge of Mathematics.

    She credits her parents for her love for the subject, and her school for developing her knowledge, adding that she solves mathematics to relax.

    “I love solving mathematical problems until I get tired.  It has become a part of me. It is fun taking my mathematics textbook and my workbook; it relieves my stress. I just love my Mathematics,” she stated.

    At the end of the preliminary round last weekend, Onafowokan and Plangdi Nepele of the Baptist High School, Naraguta, Plateau State, advanced to the semi-final stage.

    Onafowokan and Nepele contested the preliminary rounds with Faith Edokpa of Mount Carmel Secondary School, Ekpoma, Edo State; Gift Nwere of FISO, Owerri, Imo State; Aisha Abubakar of Iqra Science Academy, Jalingo, Taraba State and Musa Usman of Government Science Secondary School, Faskari, Kastina State.

    In the Junior Category, Oluwafemi Adeyanju of Jesuit Memorial College and Jesse Uche-Nwichi of Graceland International School, both in Port Harcourt, Rivers State qualified for the semi-finals.

    The first prize for each category is N1 million and an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country, while the first and second runners-up will get N750,000 and N500,000.

    Teachers of the category champions will get N400,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will get N300,000 and N200,000. The winning schools will receive Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.

    The 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show continues.