Enugu State has joined the list of states that have produced semi-finalists for the ongoing Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics Television Quiz show, sponsored by Cowbell Milk, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
For reaching that stage, Ngozi Nworu, a student of Bishop Otubelu Juniorate, Enugu raised the expectation of the south-east region to compete for the ultimate prize with the south-west and south-south regions, which have multiple representatives in the semi-finals.
Ngozi was joined in the semi-final stage by Damilare Adepoju of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State, both of whom participated in the same group of the second round.
The other candidates that have now ended their journey in the competition are Emeka Onwe of Comprehensive School of Management and Technology Staff Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebony State; Dongnaan Bala of St. Augustine College, New Karu, Abuja; Nnagozie Tochukwu of Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Swanta Stephen of The Incubators Secondary Academy, Kaduna State.
Ngozi attributed her success to her calculation skills and speed, adding that “there is a lot of benefit of being able to tackle a problem without resorting to a calculator and that was what helped me in the 60 seconds of fame segment.”
In the senior category, Ruth Imarhiagbe of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt and Oreofe Daniel of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State progressed to the semi-finals.
Despite their spirited efforts in the first and second rounds, four of their colleagues could not surmount the hurdles. They are Aliyu Tukur Usman of Darul Arqam Islamic Institute, Yola, Adamawa State; Sanyaolu Daniel of Taidob College Abeokuta, Ogun State; Onyedikachi Kanu of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State; and Victory Oboh of Lords and Kings Academy, Warri, Delta State.
Speaking to journalists, Imarhiagbe said mathematics is fun and that she would be delighted to wear the crown at the finals.
Oreofe, on her part, believes her frightful moment is over and that she is now in the right frame of mind to confront and dismantle the remaining obstacles on her way to the ultimate prize.
In the spirit of the 20th anniversary of Cowbell and mathematics in Nigeria, this year’s prize money has been doubled as winners in both categories will receive N2 million each with an all-expense paid educational excursion abroad; while the first and second runners-up will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.
The teachers of the winners will receive N500,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will get N400,000 and N300,000 respectively. Also, each of the winning schools will be presented with mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
