50, 000 students expected at NASSMAC first stage exam

Lagos, Nigeria, 06 March, 2012: About 50,000 students are expected to write the first stage examination of the Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition slated for March 17, 2012.

Mr. Kachi Onubogu, marketing director of Promasidor, makers of Cowbell milk, disclosed this in Lagos, adding that they are expecting 50,000 students pan Nigeria. About 34,000 students participated in the 2011 edition of NASSMAC.  

The examination will hold in 200 centres across Nigeria.

The competition is open to all students between 10 – 18 years of age in JSS3 and SSS2 attending full time secondary education in government approved schools in Nigeria. The examination will be supervised by officials of the States Ministries of Education and Promasidor personnel in all the centres nationwide.

Students with the highest scores in both the junior and the senior categories from each state will be invited for the second and final stage examination from where the national prize winners shall emerge.

“The best three students in each category at the state level will receive the following cash prizes for their outstanding performance at the first stage examination: first prize N25, 000, second prize N20, 000 and third prize N15, 000,” he added.

The Cowbell NASSMAC started in 1998 with the aim of helping students to demystify mathematics. The competition creates a credible platform for identification and celebration of outstanding students and recognition of exceptional ability.

Already, stakeholders in the education sector had recently endorsed the Cowbell NASSMAC.

Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye who commended Promasidor for the initiative also enjoined Mathematics teachers across the country to encourage their students to develop interest in the study of the subject rather than being afraid of it.

Oladunjoye who was represented by Mr. Semasa Sutton, a director in the Lagos State Ministry of Education also advised students not to be afraid of Mathematics, because it is like any other subjects.

In her contribution, Mrs. O.O.Ajibade, a deputy registrar with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) commended Promasidor for the bold initiative of promoting the study of Mathematics in the country and asked other companies to take a cue from it.

She noted that Promasidor was by extension encouraging the study of science courses through the NASSMAC because Mathematics is one of the gateway subjects students need to move forward educationally.

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