Nine-year-old Enwere-Kingsley Ikenna of Cuddy Kids School, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos on Thursday emerged overall winner of the 16th Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC).
Ikenna won gold medal, scoring 98.85 per cent to defeat 39,518 candidates who participated in the competition in the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The competition, organised by National Mathematical Centre and Nigeria Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) Abuja, was to reward hard work for pupils who devoted time to surmount the phobia associated with mathematics.
Mr. Ercan Yilmaz, Principal, NTIC, Ogun Chapter, said Ikenna would get all expenses paid full scholarship with N300,000 cash prize while his teacher would get N200,000 and his school would get a digital printer and desktop.
Read Also: Mathematics lecturer killed in Benin
Yilmaz said pupils who emerged winners from second to seventh position would also get full scholarship from the college while winners from eighth to the twelfth position would get 100 per cent scholarship on tuition, among other prizes.
“This is certainly a display of academic commitment par excellence which NTIC as a school that rewards hard work would not be tired of doing.
“We believe that pupils who could devote much of their time to the mastery of mathematics, that others in their ignorance, consider a big devil should be more than amply rewarded,” he said.
The principal noted over the years, the competition had been further strengthened and improved in quality, quantity and the spread of participation.
He lauded the state Universal Basic Education Board in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara States for their partnership to further improve participation, organisation and manpower deployments for the competition.
Mr J. O. Odeyemi, Director, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ogun, also said the award was not just to recognise the brilliant learners, but to encourage other learners to excel in other academic facet.
Odeyemi, represented by Mrs. Olayemi Aromolati, an official of the Ministry, said the award was laudable because it aimed at recognising the contribution of the young talent who have made immense contribution to the college, which would in turn affect the society positively.
The other top 11 finalists are Kayode Oluwaseyi-Emeka of Brainiacs Montessori Schools, Ogun, who emerged second position with 97.37 per cent and got a cash prize of N200, 000, N100, 000 for teacher, a digital printer and desktop for school.
Daaron Okam of Bridging gap Schools, Lagos, came third with 96.53 per cent with cash prize of N100, 000.
The teacher will receive N75, 000, a digital printer for school, while Ayomikun Bello emerged fourth position.
Adebayo joy of Petoa Nursery and Primary School, Ekiti, came fifth position with 94.89 per cent, Isabela Adubifa of Corona Schools, Victoria Island, Lagos, came sixth with 94.77 per cent, while Onwumere Ucheochukwu of St. Saviour School, Lagos, emerged seventh position with 94. 06 per cent.
Oluwalade Oluwademilade of Living Spring School, Lekki came eight with 93. 41 per cent, Esekhalu Ehinowu of Play Learn Academy bagged ninth position with 93.40 per cent while Adewale Ajayi of Migration Montessori, Ogun, emerged tenth position with 93.25 per cent.
Also, Patrick Taiwo of Adeola Odutola College, Ogun, emerged eleventh position with 93.14 per cent and Eunice Oluwatomi of Oluwarotimi Nursery and Primary School, Akure, bagged the twelfth position.
The winners emerged from the fourth to twelfth position also received various cash prizes which ranged from N75,000 to N25,000 for the least person and N50,000 to N20,000 for their teachers .
The 16th edition of the competition was sponsored by Access Bank, Nigeria.
NAN
