FG to Grant Scholarships to Winners of Cowbell NASSMAC to Study Mathematics at University Level

Abuja, Nigeria, 5 July 2012: The Federal Government has promised to grant scholarships to any winner of the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) who choose to study Mathematics at the university level.



L-R: Professor Sagir Abbas, Special Adviser on Education to the Minister of Education, Professor (Mrs.) Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I, Master Uwa Benjamin, overall winner senior category star prize  , Professor Adewale Solarin; Acting Director-General, National Mathematics Centre,  Master Akintokun Gboyega , overall winner junior category star prize and Chief Keith Richards at the 2012 Cowbell NASSMAC prize giving ceremony in Abuja yesterday.

Professor Adewale Solarin , Acting Director-General /Chief Executive of the National Mathematics Centre (NMC) disclosed this in Abuja yesterday at the prize giving ceremony of the 2012 Cowbell NASSMAC  ceremony.

Master Uwa Benjamin a 15 year-old SSS 2 student of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State was the overall winner in the senior secondary school category with a total score of 96 per cent while Master Akintokun Samuel Gboyega, a JSS 2 student of Ota Total Academy, also in Ota, Ogun State emerged the overall winner in the junior secondary school category. 

Professor Solarin said students should adopt the idea that better is not good enough, they must strive beyond, remarking that for the Vision 20:2020 of the Federal Government to become a reality, efforts must be geared towards science education, training and development, saying this is the bedrock for national development.

The director –General  said he hoped that “Our students will continue to take advantage of the Cowbell Mathematics competition and other competitions to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead as future leaders of this great country.”

Professor Solarin said Promasidor, makers of Cowbell Milk has over the years, demonstrated its resolve not only to contribute towards the development of the nation ,but also assist in the advancement of mathematics education in Nigeria, through the organization and sponsorship of the National Secondary School Mathematics Competition.

He said this development has endeared the company to the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Mathematics Centre and indeed to all states’  ministries of education and other stakeholders, remarking that the prize giving ceremony was historical as it was another step towards addressing the problem of apparent loss of pupils’ interest in Mathematics.

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Professor (Mrs.) Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’I said the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) which has become a national competition covering the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is annually organize to rekindle students’ interest in Mathematics at junior and secondary schools in Nigeria through well guided seminars, workshops, counseling and career talk.

He said it is also a forum for identifying and selecting excellent and gifted student participants to represent Nigeria at the various International Mathematics competitions and the Olympiad.

The minister who was represented by her Special Adviser on Education, Professor Sagir Abbas also noted that Promasidor has been providing financial assistance to schools and students in a bid to promote science, technology and Mathematics education in Nigeria.

Earlier in his address of welcome, Chief Keith Richards (OBE), Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria quoted Isaac Barrow, an English classical scholar, theologian and renowned Mathematician as saying that “Mathematics is the unshaken Foundation of Science.”

He said Barrow recognized that Mathematics was a universal language and the bedrock of science and technological advancement.

“We at Promasidor Nigeria Limited clearly recognize this fact and have been sponsoring NASSMAC for more than a decade through our flagship brand- Cowbell, “Richards said.

He said the primary objective of this CSR initiative is to arouse and re-awaken interest in Mathematics amongst secondary school students as a road map to nation building.