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Tag: Cowbellpedia

  • Tension as pupils, teachers await Cowbellpedia results

    Pupils who participated in the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Qualifying Examination are already waiting for the Thursday, June 1st, date for the release of their results. Teachers and management of various schools that presented students are equally looking forward to a successful outing for their candidates.

    A cross section of pupils, who sat for the examination in March expressed optimism about the outcome as they look forward to their results on the online portal: www.cowbellpedia.ng

    A junior secondary pupil of Pakoto High School, Ifo, Ogun State, and first time participant, Kehinde Hassan, recalled how his initial tension during the examination eventually gave way to confidence. His counterpart from Jacobs High School, Owode, Ogun State, Johnson Oluwole, is also sure of advancing to the second round. “I have tried my best, and I am praying, my family is praying too. I just hope for the best,” Oluwole said

    Oluwatoyin Ayodele, one of the teachers at the Pakoto Examination centre, is also certain that his pupils will cruise to the next stage. “I have no doubt at all. My students have prepared very well and my wish for them is to get to the finals and win the ultimate prize,” he said.

    A total of 51,018 candidates sat for this year’s Stage one of the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show.

    Further analysis shows a total of 26,057 and 24, 961 candidates in the JSS and SSS respectively.

    Also the number of online candidates’ registration soared from 19,604 to 32,096 in 2017, amounting to a 64 per cent growth over last year.

    Aside the figures, the percentage of online registration to total registration increased from 43 per cent in 2016 to 63 per cent in the current edition.

    Candidates are advised to visit www.cowbellpedia.ng for the Stage One result from June 1st, 2017 as 108 candidates (54 each for junior and senior categories) are to proceed to the Stage Two, which is the Television Quiz show.

    The second stage, will be further sub-divided into preliminary, semifinals and finals. The show will be serialised into 13 episodes and aired on major television stations across the country.

    The ultimate prize for this year’s edition is N1 million and an all-expense paid excursion outside the country, while the 1st and 2nd runners up will go home with N750,000.00 and N500,000.00 respectively.

    Similarly, the teacher of the star winner will get N400, 000.00.  Teachers of first and second runners up, will go home with N300, 000.00 and N200, 000.00.

  • Promasidor kicks off Cowbellpedia Maths contest

    Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, makers of Cowbell milk, has opened entries for the 2017 edition of the Cowbellpedia Mathematics TV Quiz show at a briefing.

    The firm is looking to register more than the 48,000 pupils from 9,000 schools secondary nationwide that participated in the first stage examination of the competition last year.

    Managing Director of the firm, Mr Olivier Thiry, said the competition was its way of contributing to the development of mathematics in the country.

    “Across the globe, investment in education has assumed an entirely new frontier that governments and corporate organisations have come to realize that building capacity in STEM courses, which Mathematics is a key component of, represents the driving force for development in the 21st century,” he said.

    Thiry said pupils aged 10-18 in JSS3 and SS2 were eligible to enter for the competition which promises attractive prizes.

    The best 20 nationwide would join the best 36 from each state in the second stage of the competition, which is the television quiz show.

    Star prize winners in each category (junior and senior secondary) would get N1 million and an all-expense paid trip outside the country.  Their teachers would go home with N400,000 each.  The first runners up would get N750,000 (N300,000 for their teachers), while the second runners up get N500,000 (N200,000 for their teachers).

    Like was introduced last year, each co-educational school that enters for competition must field at least two girls out of five contestants for the first stage examination.

    Juliet Ikoko, 2016 Junior Category winner, said she was a beneficiary of the initiative. She added that the competition boosted her self confidence.

    “After I won the competition, I gained more confidence in myself.  I want to thank Promasidor for opportunity and for giving a chance to the girl-child of which I am one,” said the teenager who hopes to study Medicine at the John Hopkins University, United States after her secondary education at Ambassadors School, Ota, in Ogun State.

    The Director, Quality Assurance, National Examination Council (NECO), Dr Ikechukwu Anyanwu, said the competition has added value to the quality of item writing for Mathematics.

    He said the Council gained from the way the items (questions) were crafted for the Television quiz show.

    He also said participants gain tremendously as the competition prepares them for university education.

    “The candidates don’t just compete for prizes but it allows them to get into the first year of university with ease,” he said.

    The 2016 Senior Category winner, Ayooluwa Oguntade, also of Ambassadors School, counseled pupils aspiring to win the competition not to give up.

  • Cowbellpedia hunts for young inventors

    Cowbellpedia hunts for young inventors

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk, is addressing the issue of mass failure in mathematics through the Cowbellpediaplatform as the giant beverage company notes the vital role of the science subject in nation building.

    This comprises Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show, Cowbellpedia Radio (a Mathematics class on radio) and Cowbellpedia Mobile App (Mathematics Q&A App).

    Through this platform, the company is determined to arouse and re-awaken the interest of students in mathematics at the secondary school level because of the importance of the subject.

    Managing Director of the company, Mr. Olivier Thiry, explained that a strong foundation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education has become very important at this stage when Nigeria is determined to broaden its economic base from a primary commodity-driven to a services-oriented economy like that of the developed world.

    Mr. Thiry, who spoke in Lagos during the press briefing to mark the commencement of the 2016 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz Show, added that STEM education will galvanise the economy towards such a direction.

    “Economic development in the developed world has occurred at the speed and intensity it has due to a strong foundation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

    “STEM courses are pivotal to a nation’s technological advancement and Mathematics, which has historically been seen by students as an unattractive subject, is a key component of STEM education,” he said.

    To encourage students’ interest in the subject, the company significantly increased the prize money for the finals of this year’s competition for both students and teachers. This year, the top prize student winner in each category went home with one million naira in addition to an all-expenses paid education excursion outside the country. The teachers of the winners in each category got four hundred thousand naira each.

    All these improvements, according to the company, are to underscore its effort to provide a credible platform that discovers, recognises and rewards excellence in Mathematics.

    The 2016 edition of the Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show came to a glorious end on Saturday, 5th November, 2016, with Juliet Ekoko and Ayooluwa Oguntade, both of The Ambassadors  College, Ota, Ogun State winning the junior and senior categories respectively.

    Meanwhile, Ayodeji Akinkuowo, a student of Adeyemi College of Education Demonstration Secondary School, Ondo, in Ondo State, and winner of last year’s competition, advised government and corporate organisations to encourage Mathematics education.

    Thiry reiterated the commitment of the company towards education, saying it is the most important investment for the future of the children of Nigeria, especially the girl-child because it allows them greater power to make informed choices.

  • How school clinched all N8.5m Cowbellpedia prizes

    How school clinched all N8.5m Cowbellpedia prizes

    By winning all six prizes available in the Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competition, The Ambassadors School, Ota in Ogun State has demonstrated that it is in a class of its own. Its Proprietor, Mr Samson Osewa, shares the secret with KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE

    The Ambassadors School, Ota in Ogun State achieved the unprecedented feat of clinching all N8.5million worth of prizes in the final of the 2016 Season Two Cowbellpedia Mathematics Quiz competition last week.

    The six representatives of the school won the top three prizes in the junior and senior secondary categories of the competition aired on television stations nationwide last Saturday.

    Ayooluwa Oguntade won the star prize of N1 million while Taiwo Adeyemi and Blessing Udoh got N750,000 and N500,000 for coming second and third. They edged out Adegoke Aromolaran of BiboOluwa Academy, Ilesa, Osun State; and Ademola Fatoke and Hassanah Adeyanju both of Ota Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State.

    It was an all girls affair in the junior category won by Juliet Ekoko, who was also rewarded with N1 million. Oreofe Daniel and Glory Okoli got N750,000 and N500,000.  They defeated Oluwafunmbi Fakorede of BiboOluwa Academy, Ilesa, Osun State; Dennis Balogun of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State; and Oluwatunmise Idowu of Scholars Universal Academy, Ota in the final.

    Ayooluwa, who hopes to become a car inventor, and Juliet, would also go on an education excursion outside Nigeria.

    Their teachers, Mr Kolawole Bello and Mr Iyanuoluwa Osewa got N400,000 each.

    The windfall did not stop for the winners and their teachers at competition level.  At school level, each of the six finalists got N200,000 – up from the N100,000 the school gives for such feat. Mr Bello was rewarded with N250,000 and full scholarship for his daughter’s senior secondary education in the school, while Mr Osewa got N300,000 and an all-expense paid trip to a destination of his choice.

    Ambassadors Proprietor, Mr Samson Osewa, credits the competition for helping the school put a system in place to improve the performance of its pupils in mathematics.

    Osewa said the school started its improvement strategy as far back as 2006 when its first representative to the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) placed over 100th position in the first stage examination in Ogun State.

    The pharmacist-turned-educationist said putting regular training for mathematics in place and providing incentives for both teachers and pupils has had a ripple effect on the overall academic performance of the school in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Cambridge IGCSE.

    “I want to tell you Ma, that this Cowbell played a significant role.  We can’t forget Cowbell in the school.  They helped us to focus – to do one thing or the other.  And we said if we can achieve in Cowbell, why can’t  we do same  in WASSCE, and Cambridge?” he said.

    Good performance in Mathematics in competition and public examinations starts from the selection of pupils into the school. Osewa said any candidate that scores below 70 per cent in the school’s entrance examination is made to resume one month before starting JSS1 for “Maths Only” classes.

    “One of the ways we also upgraded our maths is that for all the pupils that are coming to our school, if they score less than 70 per cent in Maths in the entrance exam, they come here for one month before we resume to do Maths Only – Maths from 9am-5pm, Monday-Saturday for four weeks.  They use two weeks to practice the maths of primary school; and two weeks to do what they will do in JSS1. And they cannot be the same again,” he said.

    Minimum pass mark for Mathematics (and English) in the school is 60 per cent.

    Any pupil that scores less spends the long holidays in school making up, said Iyanuoluwa Osewa, the proprietor’s son.

    “Usually, when the students write exams, students that don’t pass Maths (and English), even if they passed other subjects, they have to come back during the holidays and we have classes for them,” he said.

    Mr Samson Osewa also said Ambassadors School has 17 Mathematics teachers – and it is normal for more than one teacher to be in a class at once.

    “We have more than one teacher teaching a class.  In our senior classes, we have nothing less than three teachers teaching maths at the same time.  As one is teaching, one is marking what they are doing.  If you ask students to do assignment and you don’t mark it, they wont do again. We have to do a lot.

    “In SS3 we have four teachers in class.  Sometimes we split the class – we look at the weak ones so we can focus on them.  When we are preparing for WASSCE, we have a lot of segregations like that.  There are people who if you don’t really try, they will not get C6.  So, we want to try and convert them to C4 so that at worst they make C6.  We look at the ones who are working for Credit and see how we can convert them to B; We look at those working for B and find how to convert them to A1.  And we look at the A1, how do we get the highest mark?” said Osewa.

    Getting 100 per cent in Mathematics is the new challenge Osewa said Ambassadors is giving its pupils, and they are measuring up.  In the Cambridge IGCSE written earlier this year, he said three pupils scored 100 per cent – the best result in Africa.

    “Like in this Cambridge, we used to get 98, 99 per cent.  But we told these ones to get 100.  If you get 100, nobody can beat your record.  100 means you do everything right.  They worked hard and prayed hard.  Three of them got 100 per cent in Mathematics this year and they were the only three in Africa who got 100 per cent. The people from Britain had to come down over here to celebrate them,” he said.

    To prepare for Cowbellpedia, Osewa said the school has pupils in the Cowbell class in every set.  Preparation intensifies as the competition gets closer – with the pupils getting three hours of practice after school hours daily and during the holidays.

    But it is not enough to be good in Mathematics at Ambassadors.  Osewa said the pupils are challenged to do well in other subjects as well such that they become all-rounders.

    “We have an exam that we call King and Queen competition in all subjects every two weeks.  We do 30 minutes and One hour tests in all subjects.  Anybody that scores 85 percent over all is called the King or Queen.  You can’t be King/Queen if you pass some and fail woefully in others.   Those who are King and Queen are celebrated.  If they do it from term to term, they are given some money.  We carry them to supermarkets for shopping.

    “We use Cowbellpedia to develop the whole school.  Other schools choose the brilliant ones and train them.  Those students can even fail other subjects.  But our students here who do Cowbell and other competitions are the best in all subjects,” he said.

    In addition to regular training every term, teachers also get rewarded for good performance in their subjects in public examinations. They get N5,000 for each A1 in Mathematics and a little less for other subjects, while any teacher that records 100 per cent pass in a subject gets additional N25,000.

     

  • Kano, Ogun shine in 2016 COWBELLPEDIA

    A pupil, Master Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, representing Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) Boys High School, Kano State, has  excelled, reaching the semi-final stage in the on-going Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz show.

    The lad, after surviving the two preliminary rounds, picked a semi-final ticket for his school, and became the first from any state in the north in the competition.

    Maje, a 13-year-old JSS 3 pupil was up against Efosa Osagiede of Obafemi Awolowo University International School, Ile Ife; Nyemike Atoh of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja; Glory Okoli of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State; Victor Mgbemena of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Muhammad Hasimu of Government Junior Day Secondary School, Dangikka Bakaro, Bauchi, Bauchi State.

    He scored 97 per cent in the qualifying examination to represent his state, Kano, and he with Okoli made it to the semi-finals.

    Maje, a first timer in Lagos and in the competition, is optimistic about his chances in the competition.

    “I want to excel and win the ultimate prize. The competition is a good experience for me. Winning it will be a fantastic achievement for me and my school. My parents and my teacher will be very happy, even my state governor too,” he said.

    While Maje appeared as the star for his state, Ogun State also put up a star performance by picking up the remaining three semi-final tickets through Ambassadors College, Ota.

    Apart from Okoli, who qualified in the junior category, Blessing Udoh and Ayooluwa Oguntade are also in the semi-final.

    Udo and Oguntade dedicated their success to their teachers and promised to sustain the tempo.

    “We have gone past two stages; two more to go before the crown. It will be good for us to be in the finals and for one of us to win the ultimate prize,” Udo said.

    Oguntade added that he is looking forward to wining the competition and promised to work more on his speed before the next stage. “I pray I win. That will be lovely. My mummy will love it. She has been praying hard for me,” he said.

    The ultimate prize for this year’s edition is one million naira and an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country. The teacher of the winning student will receive N400,000.

     

  • Parents intercede for COWBELLPEDIA contestants as pupil sets record

    Parents intercede for COWBELLPEDIA contestants as pupil sets record

    With the best 108 of maths brain set for the television quiz stage of the Cowbellpedia maths competition, some parents have sought spiritual help  for their wards’ success.

    While teachers played the roles of counsellor and supporter, some parents were seen at the studio where the Cowbellpedia quiz competition was being recorded, praying for their wards, too tensed to concentrate while awaiting their turns.

    The prayer may have been necessitated by the brilliance exhibited by the pupils on set.  For instance, a contestant in the junior category, Oluwatunmise Idowu, of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State wowed everybody by answering 17 questions correctly in the 60 Seconds of fame round.

    With the feat, she beat the record of 15 questions set by the 2015 Cowbellpedia champion, Ayodeji Akinkuowo.

    One of the parents providing spiritual support for her ward was Mrs. Josephine Okeke, whose son, Favour, was one of the five representing Loyola Jesuit College, Gidan-Mangoro, Abuja.

    She spent most of her time entreating God to reward her son’s efforts.

    Okeke contested against Ayomide Ajayi of Bibo Oluwa Academy Ilesa, Osun State; Emmanuel Igban of Ambassador College, Ota, Ogun State; Isikanye Praise of Federal Government Academy, Suleja, Niger State; Ugozuchuwu Offor of University of Nigeria Secondary School, Enugu Campus; and Divine Uzagu of Federal Government College, Okposi, Abia State in the preliminary stage of the quiz.

    Mrs. Okeke, a pharmacist, who ‘dumped’ her career to support her children, said the prayers were necessary as effort is not enough.

    “The race is not for the swif, but for God who shows mercy and God says: ‘I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.’ I believe God for my son. I am standing in the gap for him. God cannot fail, so, my son can never fail,” she said.

    Another intercessor was Mrs Patience Okoh, who stood in the gap for her niece, Angelica Uzo, also of Loyola Jesuit College.

    “I am the mother here in Lagos, my sister called me up from Abuja yesterday that I should be here to monitor her. What it means is that I must do everything within my power to make her succeed and the best I can do is to pray. This I have been doing,” she remarked.

    Redemption Adebayo, a pupil of Model Secondary School, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State, said her father called her daily to pray that she makes it to the finals.

    “The whole family is praying for me, and we did a lot of prayers to seek God’s favour from the beginning of this competition,” she said.

    With one million up for grabs for each of the winners (and N400,000 for their teachers) in the junior and senior categories of the competition, as well as an all-expenses paid educational excursion outside the country, the prayers are in order. However, the finals would tell whose prayers God would answer.

    Last year, Akinkuowo of Adeyemi Demonstration Secondary School, Ondo State, won the senior category, while Munachi Ernest-Eze of Loyola Jesuit won the junior category.

    They got N750,000 each, while their teachers got N250,000. The schools also got five computers and printers.

     

  • Promasidor partners NECO to expand COWBELLPEDIA reach

    Promasidor partners NECO to expand COWBELLPEDIA reach

    With the National Examinations Council (NECO) coming on board to endorse and conduct the first stage of the Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz show, Promasidor Nigeria Limited is expecting to reach more participants this year.

    Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing at Promasidor said at a briefing on Tuesday that the qualifying examination for this year’s competition holding on March 19, 2016 will be conducted by NECO because of its experience in conducting public examination, such as the Senior School Certificate Examination twice yearly.

    He also expressed confidence that the integrity the competition has sponsored for 18 years will not be compromised under NECO in response to concerns about examination leakages.

    “We have talked about leakages with NECO and they have assured us it won’t happen.  Working with NECO is to extend our reach. We have been a little short in reaching all parts of the country,” he said.

    The competition is open to pupils aged 10 – 18 years in JSS3 and SS2 in both public and private secondary schools in Nigeria.  Tettey said each school can now present five candidates for each category (junior and senior secondary).  However, he said two in each set must be girls to stimulate the love for the subject among girls.

    The firm has also developed an online registration portal (www.cowbellpedia.ng) for the competition as against the manual registration used in the past.

    After the first stage examination, 54 pupils in each category (the best 20 nationwide, and the best in each state) will feature in the Cowbellpedia Television Show.

    Managing Director, Promasidor, Mr. Olivier Thiry, said the company has increased the prize money for the top three winners in both categories and their teachers this year.  The first in both categories will now get N1 million – up from N750,000; the second place, N750,000, and the third, N500,000.  The top three teachers will get between N400,000 and N200,000.

    “All these improvements are to underscore Promasidor’s efforts to provide a credible platform that discovers, recognizes and rewards excellence in Mathematics, a critical component of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria,” he said.

  • College fetes Cowbellpedia champion

    Authorities of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, have organised a reception in honour of the winner of the 2015 Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition, Ayodeji Akinkuowo.

    The SS3 pupil of the Adeyemi College of Education Demonstration Secondary School Ondo (ACEDSSO), won the star prize of N750,000 in the senior category of the competition organised by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell Milk.

    ACE Provost, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, represented by Dr. Ajigbade Ikuejube, Dean, School of Arts and Social Science, lauded Akinkuowo, for his excellent performance and presented a gift to the teenager, who also got N100,000 presented by the chairman, ACEDSSO PTA, Mr Mamukuyomi Ebenezer.

    Ogen praised the Management and teachers of ACEDSSO, saying the feat was a reflection of the quality of teaching in the school. He promised to employ more competent teachers for the school so it can continue to compete favourably with others.

    Ogen also praised Akinkuowo’s parents for investing in his education, an example worthy of emulation.

    The principal, Mr Emmanuel Owasoyo, described Akinkuowo as a brilliant and humble student and attributed his success to brilliance, mental capacity and hard work.

    Akinkuowo’s father, Mr Taye Akinkuowo thanked the Management of ACE and ACEDSSO for providing the opportunity for him to participate in the competition.

    On his part, the teenager pledged to remain a good Ambassador and advised other students to work hard in order to bring more glory to the school.

  • Finalists laud Cowbellpedia

    Secondary school pupils, who participated in the Cowbellpedia quiz competition aired on many television stations nationwide, have praised the initiative for challenging them to improve in Mathematics.

    The quiz is the second and intensive stage of the National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) organised by Promasidor Nigeria.

    Some of the 12 pupils, who got to the final stage of the competition in both junior and senior categories, said the initiative stimulated their interest in Mathematics.

    In the junior category were: Abdulmueez Yusuf (Nigerian Turkish International College, Abuja); Munachi Ernest-Eze (Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja); Ajoke Taiwo (Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota); Olabisi Bello (Dansol High School, Acme Crescent); Ayomide Fadipe (Loyola Jesuit College); and Evans Owamoyo (Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi).

    Similarly, Joshua Mukot (Emilis Academy, Calabar); Inibehe Otoho (Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom state); Titilayo Adewale-Fasoro (Hallmark Secondary School, Itanla, Ondo State); Mariam Sanni (Ota Total Academy, Ota); Ayomide Kamaldeen (Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja); and Ayodeji Akinkuowo (Adeyemi College of Education Demonstration Secondary School, Ondo) made it to the final stage in the senior category.

    Speaking on his impression, Munachi, a 13-year old student of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja said the competition was of high standard.

    His words: “You can see that I am shedding tears of joy. It is not only because of my brilliant performance but because of the high standard of the competition. It is obvious that a lot of preparation has gone into achieving this level of performance. I commend the teachers; I also commend Cowbell for giving us this opportunity”.

    Apart from enhancing their interest in mathematics, some of the finalists said their participation in the competition has raised their profiles back in school.

    Olabisi Bello said: “My friends and teachers now treat me differently in school, they call me Cowbell.”

    The Cowbell NASSMAC has been in existence since 2001.  This year, the competition was modified to feature a televised quiz competition from the second stage.

    Of the modification, Managing Director of Promasidor, Mr. Olivier Thiry, said innovation drives the organisation’s business.

    “Today, this new and value-adding direction takes our initiative to another height in our pursuit to nurture great innovators – engineers and scientists for tomorrow. Mathematics is particularly unique as it is the bedrock upon which science and technology is built,” he said.