Tamunokuro Braide, a Junior secondary
school student of Graceland International
School, Port Harcourt, River State has
attributed her mastery of Mathematics to the
comic style her tutor adopts when teaching
the subject.
Braide, who is participating in the ongoing
2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools
Mathematics TV Quiz Show sponsored by
Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor
Nigeria Limited, said she fell in love with the
subject because of the lively manner with
which her teacher handles Mathematics
lessons. “My teacher takes the pains and
fears out of Mathematics. When he is in the
class teaching us, he adds some comic relief
that arrest our attention and ignite our
interest and passion,” she said.
She observed that many students do not like
Mathematics because “they feel it is hard,
while most teachers are not patient with the
students”. Braide also disclosed that she
spends three hours studying Mathematics
every day. “It has been a great experience for
me so far. My expectation is to get the cash
prize,” she said.
In the sixth preliminary contest last weekend,
Braide and Ezekiel Ekanem of Advanced Breed
Group of Schools, Sagamu, Ogun State
moved into the semi-final stage after getting
the better of Omamode Sohwo of Graceville
High School, Asaba, Delta State and Kolawole
Bankole of Greater Tomorrow International
College, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Others who
could not go to the next stage were Henry
Nworie of Twelve Apostles College, Sharon,
Ebonyi State and George Tochukwu of Ruby
Peculiar College, Jalingo, Taraba State.
An elated Ekanem, who scored 98 per cent in
the qualifying examination conducted in
March 2017 gave gratitude to God for seeing
him through the ‘tough battle of the group’.
He also thanked his parents for the
encouragement given to him before the
competition.
In the Senior category, Benjamin Chisom of
Dority International Secondary School Aba,
Abia State and Favour Ajibola of Model
Secondary School Alagbaka-Akure, Ondo
State qualified for the semi-finals in the
contest that also included Christopher Ikeh of
Reality High School Ilesha, Osun State and
Jinan Lakan of Bethany Christian Academy,
Jos, Plateau State. Others in the race were
Alfred Thompson of Belary Schools, Yenegoa,
Bayelsa State and Fatima Suleiman of El-
Kanemi Schools Nigeria, Maiduguri, Borno
State.
Ajibola, who was very excited about his
qualification, expressed optimism about his
chances of winning the ultimate prize. He
promised to work more on his speed and
composure in the next stages of the
competition. Chisom also expressed
confidence in his ability to excel in the
journey to the finals. “My worst fear is over
now that I have qualified for the semifinal.
The race is open now, I only need to intensify
my preparation and prayers,” he said.
The ultimate prize in the Senior and Junior
categories is N1 million each and all-
expense-paid educational excursion outside
the country. The first and second runner-ups
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 runner-ups will receive N300,000
and N200,000 respectively. Also, the winning
schools will be rewarded with mathematics
textbooks, desktop computers and printers.