BY HENRY TYOHEMBA AND CHISOM UKOMAH, Abuja
The Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) has awarded finalists of its 20th Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC) with scholarships and cash prizes.
The ANMC is the largest and yearly competition organised for mathematics enthusiasts in Primary 5, Primary 6, and JSS 3 by NTIC in collaboration with the National Mathematics Centre (NMC).
It recognises the achievements of outstanding young mathematics minds with the ultimate goal to produce remarkable students that would lead to changes in the inventions that would shape the future of sciences in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
This year, about 10,000 students participated in the first round across various states while thirty two won the scholarships and other prizes.
Speaking during the prize giving and award ceremony, Fevzullah Bilgin, the managing director of NTIC, said the school has been organising ANMC for the past 20 years as the sole sponsor of this 20th edition.
He said the aim of annual competition is to harness outstanding young mathematics minds, sharpen their rough edges and groom them to become strong and proficient in sciences.
“The Annual National Mathematics Competition is set for outstanding students, and these qualifiers have made themselves proud; brought accolades to each school they represent and their parents.
“Mathematics is a critical part of modern life, and its importance cannot be overstated. Mathematics is a fundamental branch of science that is essential for understanding and analyzing the world around us.
“It provides us with the tools to understand the world around us and make informed decisions that affect our lives and the lives of others, and this is what Annual National Mathematics Competitions revolves around.”
Bilgin noted that the NTIC currently has more than 144 students studying in the school through ANMC scholarship scheme.
“It is worth mentioning some of ANMC’s exceptional students are; Henry Aniobi, a 2007 ANMC winner. Henry is a three-time gold winner of Pan African Mathematical Olympiad. He is also a four-time International Mathematics Olympiad medalist worldwide.
“Ayomide Bamidele, a 2008 ANMC winner, was a National Physics Olympiad winner in 2014. He also won bronze at International Physics Olympiad in 2014 at Kazakhstan. Vincent Anioke, a 2006 ANMC winner, scored 2390 out of 2400 in S.A.T and gained a scholarship into MIT, one of the world’s leading universities.
“A recent one is Chioma Opara, a 2016 ANMC winner who graduated in the 2022/2023 academic session. She had an almost perfect score of 1550 in SAT, 345 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and an unprecedented straight 9As in West African Examination Council (WAFC). She set the record straight by gaining scholarship to two prestigious universities in the world: Toronto University, Canada and Long Island University, USA,” he added.
Prof. Promise Mebine, the Director and Chief Executive, National Mathematical Centre (NMC), who was represented by Prof. Jonathan. O said its relationship with NTIC is symbiotic one as both parties benefits from each other.
He commended the school for the gesture to promote science in the country, while pledging his support.
Meanwhile, Nwakuche Festus Chidubem of Pyramid Learning Academy, Anambra State who emerged over all best won N100,000 and scholarship waiver.
The third best students got cash rewards of N50,000, while the second over all best, Amah Chibuike from Diamond Special school, Imo state got N75000 cash prizes with scholarship waiver.
