Posted by From Juliana Taiwo in Abuja on
Four students who exhibited exceptional flare in mathematics during the last National Mathema-tical competition last week left for Algeria to participate in the 2005 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) competition.
Four students who exhibited exceptional flare in mathematics during the last National Mathema-tical competition last week left for Algeria to participate in the 2005 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) competition.
While sending the four students forth, the Director General of the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, Prof. Sam Ale reiterated that the Centre had begun the sponsorship of successful students to international mathematical competitions to address the apparent loss of students' interest in the subject due to perceived difficulty of the subject and the high cost of mathematics textbooks and teaching aids.
He charged the students (Miss Jacinta Enebeli and Ahigbe Matthew both of Loyola Jesuit, Ariyibe Segun and Samuel Chukwuma both of Nigerian Turkish International College) to be good ambassadors of the country and win laurels, adding that students will continue to take advantage of the competitions organised by the centre to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead as future leaders of this great country.
He said although Nigeria has never participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) competition since its inception in 1959, it has participated once in the PAMO, stressing that with Nigeria's registration this year in the IMO, it would afford the country the opportunity to participate in the annual competition from 2006 with a team of six students, one team leader and one deputy leader.
This was part of the outcome of the Centre's representation at the just concluded 46th edition of the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in Mexico, which is designed to discover, encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young people from countries to foster friendly international relationships among mathematicians from all countries; to create an opportunity for the exchange of information on school syllabuses and practices throughout the world and to promote mathematics in general.
Ale further revealed that 525 contestants from 94 countries participated in the 46th IMO making it the largest in the history of the competition. He said though no African country among the four that participated (South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco and Mozambique) won a medal in this year's event, Nigeria would use its participation this year to prepare Nigerian students to enable them win medals for the country in 2006 IMO in Slovenia.
The NMC boss stressed that the Centre in sustaining its objectives, which include improving the performance of students in mathematics and stimulating and developing interest of students in mathematics had so far received encouragement from the Federal Ministry of Education and financial support to the tune of N6 million from the Federal capital Territory Minister (for three contestants).
Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, makers of Cowbell milk brand and the Management of WEMA Bank (sponsors of observers to IMO), used the forum to call on other stakeholders in the educational sector to encourage and support activities leading to the improvement of the teaching and learning of the mathematical sciences in Nigeria.
Enebeli, speaking on behalf of the students gave the assurance that the country's representatives would come back with medals. Also the head of Olympiad Unit of Centre, Mr. Steve Dele Oluwaniyi said that the selection process had prepared the students to face the challenges of any international competition and has been able to ginger the interest of students in mathematics.
Mr. Sola Mogaji, public relations manager of Promasider Nigeria Ltd, said the company regards its participation in the Centre's incentive programme as a social service to the nation and was motivated to support the competition as part of its social responsibility to encourage society and students in the study of mathematics in schools.