Mathematics requires critical thinking, says Agom

Critical thinking is all that is required to make Mathematics easy for students. This is the submission of Joseph Agom, a semi-finalist in the on-going 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show, sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

Agom, a 13-year-old student of Top Faith International Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, explained that the subject, which has become the albatross of many students, required less sweat but more of strategic thinking and concentration. “Mathematics comes naturally to me. Most times, I don’t even use my pen and paper to work because they slow me down. I use my brain more,” Agom revealed.

Nicknamed “magician” by his school mates because of his uncommon approach to Mathematics, Agom traced his love for the subject to his father who has a PhD in Petroleum Engineering.

In the fifth preliminary stage contest last weekend, Agom and Godwin Terzulum of Government Science and Technical College, Garagboghol, Benue State moved onward to the semi-finals of the Junior category.

The duo had the better of Anastasia Ifinedo of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State; Sharon Adichie of Royal Girls’ Academy, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Jacinta Osose of Presentation National High School, Benin City, Edo State and Khalid Yusuf of Gobaru Academy, Katsina, Katsina State.

In the Senior category, Ikechukwu Ibeh of Federal Government College, Suleja, Niger State and Tomiwa Olatunbosun of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State scaled through ahead of Sorchima Duru from Federal College of Education Secondary School, Akoka, Lagos State; Temitayo Jimoh of Greater Tomorrow, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State; Rachael Igbozuike of Federal Government College, Calabar, Cross River State and Mariya Garba of Caliphate International Secondary School, Gusau, Zamfara State.

Fifteen-year-old Ibeh also expressed confidence in his ability to emerge champion in the Senior category of this year’s edition. “I believe God who has seen me through this stage will pilot me to the finals. I have my eyes on the finals and I believe the ultimate prize will be mine,” he told journalists outside the studio in Lagos last weekend.

An all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country and N1 million is the ultimate prize for this year’s winners in both the Junior and Senior categories, while the first and second runners-up in each category will go home with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

The teachers of the 2017 champions will be awarded N400,000 each, while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. The winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.

The 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show continues this weekend and will be aired to millions of viewers on DSTV Africa Magic Family channel, Africa Independent Television Network and other six television stations across the country.