Abuja, Dec. 12, 2018 (NAN) – Prof. Stephen Onah, Director/Chief Executive, National Mathematical Centre (NMC), says 20 Nigerian students whose outstanding performances from the Centre’s Olympiads have earned scholarships to study any course of their choice abroad.
Onah, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria said the students were already in various schools and studying courses such as mathematics, physics and biology abroad.
According to him, the centre has put in place various competitive incentive schemes as a strategy to further encourage the learning of mathematics in schools.
The incentive schemes include the enrollment of Nigeria in International Mathematics and Sciences Olympiad, the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) with equal representation by female students and the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) among others.
The director said that the centre would continue to sustain the International Chemistry Olympiad and International Biology Olympiad as much as funds would permit.
He told NAN that this was to enable young students who had shown competitiveness to have the opportunity to travel abroad to compete with their counterparts across the globe.
« Over the years, we have continued to receive tremendous support from the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in the education sector.
« We are committed to organising the national, continental and international competitions ».
He added that the objectives of the competition were to improve the performance of students in mathematics and mathematical sciences.
« Also, to stimulate and develop interest of students in mathematics and mathematical sciences, identifying and seeking financial support to students for their further studies.
Onah said the first round of the 2018/2019 competition has been concluded, adding that the second round would be coming up in January 2019 throughout the states of the federation.
« It is hoped that students will take advantage of these competitions to further equip-themselves for future challenges.
« The Olympiads, as you know, are events designed to identify and encourage talents among youths in mathematics and mathematical sciences.
« The competitions are also used to develop and reward youths across the world and to establish friendly relationships among them.
« Any achievement at the Olympiads draw huge amount to the individuals in particular, the school and the country ».
He added that a good performance by a country was automatically used to rate it as one with high-level of youth development and a country with high potential in science and technology.
« We must select the best of our best to represent this great country at the next edition of all the Olympiads. »
