Over 45,000 Pupils Participate In NTIC Mathematics Competition

The Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) recently held the 20th edition of its Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC).

The annual edition of the competition which was organised by NTIC, in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre, had over 45,000 participants and was held in Abuja over the weekend.

The competition which started in 2003 has become a nationwide event that is responsible for sourcing great talents in the subject of Mathematics.

Managing Director of NTIC, Fevzullah Bilgin, said the event, now in its 20th edition, is aim at encouraging students in the study of mathematics across the 36 states of the federation.

Bilgin further said 24 students from Primary 5 and 6, and 22 students from Junior Secondary School 3 would be awarded a 100 percent tuition scholarship.

He explained that mathematics is the essence and the basics of all of the subjects and it helps people to think more deeply and to use their brains more and then to improve their analytical skills.

He noted that without mathematics, one cannot have engineering, buildings, bridges, and even art because the symmetry in art is also related to mathematics.

“Everything starts with mathematics and that is why we want to help the students in Nigeria to study to have an excitement and motivation to come and become successful in math competitions.

“This is the 20th edition. It’s been 20 years since we have been doing the competition in Nigeria so this is the biggest mathematics competition in Nigeria,” he said.

He also said the school is taking students into its scholarship programmes through this examination, into JSS One, from primary five and six, and also into SSS One from JSS three.

Bigil, disclosed that From the examination, the school is hoping to get 24 scholarships to primary school pupils, and also 12 for the full tuition fee and 10 for the accommodation and tuition fees, making 22 for the Junior Secondary into SS one.

“The first number of seven students are the ones who are getting a full scholarship from South Zone, Seven from the North Zone, making 14 full scholarships including hostel and then the tuition fees, While the next five people are the people who get full scholarship on tuition fee making 12 from North and 12 from South, making it 24.”

The Head of Department of English, Rufai Adekun, said the competition is one event that should be a national programme because of its benefits.

“We should be having like12,000 participants here in Abuja alone and as we speak, this competition is also in two other regions with at least 15 centers, with equally 15,000 participants. So we are looking at 45,000 pupils in Nigeria, going through the process under this umbrella.

“If we do this consistently, I believe the future of the country will be better and that is another reason why I see this programme and the organisers of this programme are doing a very wonderful job.

“Programmes like this are very developmental for their brain, present years, and also for their later progress in life. So that’s one of the benefits of this program. A lot of them would come out better than they got in, some would win while some would not win the star prizes.”