Rivers, Osun and Ogun States last weekend produced the last set of four finalists in both the junior and senior categories of the 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show. That set the stage for the grand finale of the competition, powered by Cowbell Milk, the leading brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
In the junior category third semi-final encounter, Loluwa Abiodun and Akinfoluhan Akinleye of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State, survived the challenge by four other contestants to reach the final. Akinfoluhan was the first participant to qualify for the semi-finals.
With the feat by the duo from The Ambassadors College, Jefferson Ejaife of DSC Technical High School, Aladja, Delta State; and Faisat Edu of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State were eliminated from the competition.
Also, unable to cross the hurdle to the final stage were Faith Odunsi of The Ambassadors College and Damilare Adepoju of Scholars Universal Secondary School, both in Ota, Ogun State.
Loluwa, daughter of a College principal, scored 125 points, 20 points better than Akinfoluhan, his school mate. Loluwa hopes to win the ultimate prize and make her family, school and state proud.
The son of a banker, Akinfoluhan, who got 95 per cent in the qualifying examination, described his Cowbellpedia experience as exciting. He prayed to win the ultimate prize and wear the crown. “I feel very happy to scale the hurdle, especially being my first time of participating in the competition. I hope to win in the final. I have done a lot of prayers and practice,” he disclosed.
In the senior category, Chinedu Mgbemena from Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State with 155 points, overwhelmed his other five colleagues to romp into the finals. He was joined by Nafisat Abdulwaheed of Reality High School, Ilesha, Osun State who had 95 points.
The sparkling performance by the duo put a lid on the ambition of Israel Adegboyega of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State; Adebisi Gift of Reality High School, Ilesha, Osun State; Ruth Imariagbe and Samuel Ebute, both of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Sixteen-year-old Nafisat, who was eliminated at the preliminary stage two years ago, was confident of her chances this time around. “This is my second time in this competition. I dropped at the preliminary stage the last time. But I am better prepared now. My expectation is nothing short of the ultimate prize,” she said
Chinedu, who is also 16-year-old and a second timer in the competition, believed he would succeed this time. “My aim in this competition is to be the best. And that’s why I practise Mathematics for long hours every day ahead of this competition. Not winning is not in my dictionary at all,” he declared.
To mark the milestone 20th anniversary of Cowbell and Mathematics, this year’s prize money has been increased by 100 percent. Winners in both categories will receive N2 million each with an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country; while the first and second runners-up will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.
The teachers of the top prize winners will each be rewarded with N500,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will each receive N400,000 and N300,000 respectively.
Also, each of the winning schools will be presented with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
The 2018 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematic TV Quiz continues this weekend. It will be aired to millions of viewers on DSTv Africa Magic Family Channel, AIT Network and other six television stations across the country.
Just as the 2018 edition is about to end, registration for next year’s competition has commenced. According to the organisers, the 2019 Cowbellpedia registration portal has been opened for secondary school students across the country to file in their applications.
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