The battle for the 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics crown will be won and lost this weekend as 12 finalists roll up their sleeves in preparation for the final ‘battle’. The finalists are spread across three states in the south west, while three schools in Ota, Ogun State produced nine of the 12 finalists.
At the end of the third and final semi-final ‘battle’, Juliet Ekoko and Oreofe Daniels, both of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State completed the list of the 6 finalists in the Junior category.
The other Junior finalists are: Oluwafunmbi Fakorede of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa, Osun State; Dennis Balogun of Greater Tomorrow International College, Akure, Ondo State; Oluwatunmise Idowu of Scholars Universal Academy, Ota, Ogun State and Glory Okoli of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State.
In the senior category, Adegoke Aromolaran of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa, Osun State and Ademola Fatoke of Ota Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State picked the final tickets.
The other finalists in the Senior category are Blessing Udoh of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State; Hasanah Adeyanju of Ota Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State; Taiwo Adeyemi of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State; and Ayooluwa Oguntade of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State.
In the qualifying written examination that took place in March 2016, Idowu scored 99 percent to qualify as one of the top 20 candidates, while the rest junior finalists scored 98 per cent. The daughter of a Mathematics teacher had earlier set a new Cowbellpedia record of 17 questions answered within a minute in her ‘60 seconds of fame’ in the preliminary round.
In the senior category, Aromolaran, an Ijesha Prince, and Blessing Udoh got a perfect score in the qualifying examination, while Fatoke and Adeyanju scored 98 and 97 per cent; respectively. The duo of Adeyemi and Oguntade got 96 per cent.
The journey to the final has been challenging and emotional for the finalists who are slugging it out for the 8.5 million Naira at stake to be shared between the winning students and their teachers.
Dennis Balogun, for instance, is the last man standing for his school. His Vice-Principal, Alao Muritala described him as cool, calm and calculated.
Glory Okoli, the lady with an enduring smile, wants to be a medical doctor. Her Mathematics teacher, Iyanuoluwa Osewa informed that the school has been conducting mock Cowbellpedia 60 seconds of fame to help her speed.
The story of Juliet Ekoko has remained a definition of luck, because she survived elimination three times in the road to the final. The 12-year old daughter of a Mathematician was described by her mother, Funmi Ekoko, as very diligent.
Tunmise Idowu on her own part remained the revelation of this year’s competition because of her new record of 17/60 seconds in the preliminary battle. Her father, Folorunso Idowu, who received the news of her qualification for the finals at 3.a.m, revealed that he discovered the mathematics traits in her since the age of three.
Adegoke Aromolaran was described by his father, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, the Owa Obokun of Ijesha as very calculating and mathematical in reasoning. The King prayed for his success and looking forward to receiving the good news of victory at the end of the competition.
Taiwo Adeyemi is resolute and has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, according to her father, Adegoke Adeyemi. “She is our teacher at home”, he said. Kolawole Bello, her Maths teacher is surprised about her prowess in the subject because most of the times, she always reads novels.
The ultimate prize for this year’s edition is One million naira and an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country. The teachers of the winning students will receive Four hundred thousand naira each.
The airing of the programme continues this weekend; AIT Network on Saturday, 7. 00p.m; TVC Lagos, Saturday, 8.00p.m.; NTA Ibadan, Saturday, 9. 30a.m; NTA Kano, Saturday, 2.00 p.m.; CRBC Calabar, Saturday 7.00p.m.; NTA Onitsha, Sunday, 5. 00p.m; STV Jos, Sunday, 5.00 p.m. Also, you can watch it on DSTV Channel 154 on Saturday, 9.00 p.m.
