Michael Paul, a 15-year-old student of Excelgrace Academy, Gboko, Benue State, has traced his success in Mathematics to his boldness in confronting the phobia that has killed the interest of many students in the subject. Paul, a Senior Secondary 2 student explained to journalists at the venue of the on-going 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show, a competition sponsored by the fl agship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Cowbell Our Milk that he “attacks mathematics and devours it like a lion.
” Nicknamed rat by his friends because of his small stature, Paul added that the Mathematics phobia dissolves like ice in hot water if you develop the boldness to confront it. “Th ere is no magic. My father, a civil engineer, told me to be bold and that the fear I initially had for the subject will fl ee from me. Th e advice has worked perfectly for me. Since then, I put on the heart of a lion anytime I want to solve Mathematics questions,” he revealed.
Th e preliminary stage of the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz last weekend threw up Paul and Margaret Chibuzo of Dority International Schools, Aba, Abia State, who both triumphed over their counterparts to proceed to the semi-fi nals in the Senior category. Paul had a perfect score in the qualifying examination while Chibuzo scored 95 per cent.
Th e duo knocked out Goodluck Samuel of Emplace College, Akure, Ondo State; Samuel Adekunle of Christ the Redeemer College, Sagamu, Ogun State; Kyrian Obikwelu of All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha, Anambra State and Abdullahi Nasir of Late Sabo Memorial Progressive Secondary School, Tilden-Fulani, Bauchi State. Chibuzo, 15, who is visiting Lagos for the fi rst-time desires to become a computer engineer.
She prays for more confi dence and to improve her speed in the journey to actualise her dream of becoming the Senior category winner of the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show. Paul, whose career dream is to become to become a
medical doctor, traced his interest in Mathematics to the encouragement he received from his father. “My father encouraged and prepared me for this competition. I can only hope for the best,” he said. Th e ultimate prize for this year’s edition is One Million Naira and an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country while the fi rst and second runners-up will go home with Seven Hundred and Fifty Th ousand Naira and Five Hundred Th ousand Naira respectively.
Th e teachers of the 2017 champions will be awarded Four Hundred Th ousand Naira while those of the fi rst and second runners-up will receive Th ree Hundred Th ousand Naira and Two Hundred Th ousand Naira respectively. Th e winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
Th e contest continues this weekend and will be aired to millions of Nigerians on Africa Magic Family, Africa Independent Television (AIT) Network and other six television stations across the country. Parents and stakeholders in the education and TV sector have also commended Promasidor Nigeria Limited for sponsoring the initiative, which is aimed at discovering and celebrating young scientists and future inventors in the country.
