Mathematics education key to Nigeria’s economic diversification – Promasidor MD

Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olivier Thiry, has explained that a strong foundation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education has become very important at this stage that Nigeria requires to broaden its economic base from a primary commodity-driven to a services oriented economy like that of the developed world.

L – R: Mr. Kachi Onibogu, Commercial Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; and Mr. Olivier Thirry, Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited and Mr. Festus Tetley, Head Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited at the media briefing on the 2016 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics T.V Quiz Competition in Lagos on Tuesday

Thiry, who was speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at the press briefing marking the commencement of the 2016 Cowbellpedia secondary School Mathematics T.V Quiz competition, added that STEM education will galvanize the economy in such a direction.

“Economic development in the developed world has occurred at the speed and intensity it has due to a strong foundation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

“STEM courses are pivotal to a nation’s technological advancement and Mathematics, which has historically been seen by students, as an unattractive subject is a key component of STEM education,” he said.

Thiry on the occasion also announced that from 2016, Promasidor has taken a strategic decision to bring all Mathematics intervention activities by Cowbell under one umbrella, COWBELLPEDIA.

He added that the company will continue with its Mathematics intervention activity for Secondary Schools in Nigeria using the name Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show. He disclosed that over the years, this sponsored platform for both Junior and Senior Secondary categories has evolved from the humble beginning of a Lagos state only examination to a nationwide examination that has received the support of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Thiry also informed that the company significantly increased the prize money for the finals for both students and teachers. This year he said, the top prize student winner in each category will go home with One Million Naira in addition to other prizes, while the teacher will be awarded Four Hundred Thousand Naira.

“All these improvements are to underscore Promasidor’s effort to provide a credible platform that discovers, recognizes and rewards excellence in Mathematics, a critical component of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria. This is in addition to the quality nutrition that is provided by the Cowbell brand for the nourishment of the Nigerian populace especially children,” he said.

In order to encourage the Girl Child Education, Thiry appealed that Mixed Secondary Schools must nominate minimum two (2) girls for each category to represent such school. “This is our own little way of encouraging the girl child to take interest in education especially the STEM courses,” he said.

Also speaking on the occasion, Festus Tettey, Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited explained that other activities under Cowbellpedia include:

Cowbellpedia Radio Programme: a 5-minute interactive radio Mathematics programme on major radio stations in Nigeria to teach secondary school students rudiments of Mathematics. Also, past examination questions of WAEC and NECO are solved on this programme; and Cowbellpedia Mobile App: a multi-level mobile app that allows secondary school students to practice Mathematics questions in a fun way and everywhere. This app can be downloaded on Google Play Store and Apple Store.

According to him, the competition this year will be in two stages: Qualifying Written Examination and TV Quiz Show

He added that the stage one of the Mathematics Competition is open to students from 10 – 18 years of age attending full time Secondary Education in both Public and Private Schools in Nigeria. Entry into this competition is FREE

Each School is required to present their BEST Ten (10) students in Mathematics (five from JSS3 and five from SSS2), irrespective of sex, religion, tribe or state of origin, to enhance their chance of qualifying for the next stage of the competition. According to him, the stage one registration which is online involves the following processes:

1. Go to www.cowbellpedia.ng
2. Click on link to register your school
3. Fill the form and submit. Ensure to fill all required fields.
4. An email will be sent to the School and Primary contact email addresses provided when filling the form.
5. Use the link in the email received to verify the email addresses. Both email addresses must be verified before you can login
6. Once school email address is verified, login to the portal using the school email and password used to register.
7. On successful login, you click on the Add Candidates under Candidate Management.
8. Fill in the candidates’ information on the form, upload the candidate’s picture and click the Save Draft button.
9. You will need to save draft information for 5 candidates before you can submit their registration. If your school is a mixed school, at least 2 of the candidates must be female or you won’t be able to complete the registration.
10. After creating the draft registration for 5 candidates in a category (junior/senior) button will be shown on the page to “Register junior/senior candidates”. Click the button to complete the registration of candidates for that category.
11. A confirmation slip will be generated for you to download and will also be mailed to the School, candidate and parent/guardian email address.
12. Print this confirmation slip and have it stamped and signed by the school principal.
13. The confirmation slip will be required for admitting candidates at the examination venue.