Ogun Students Win Promasidor’s Millions At Cowbellpedia Finale

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

The Winners (L-R): Oguntade Ayooluwa and Juliet Ekoko

It was a mixture of excitement and celebration as the 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competition came to a glorious end last weekend with Juliet Ekoko and Ayoola Oguntade, both of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State winning the junior and senior categories; respectively.

The winners got N1 million each and an all-expense paid education excursion outside the country.

In a thrilling final encounter in the junior category, Ekoko subdued Oreofe Daniels of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State; Oluwafunmbi Fakorede of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa, Osun State; Dennis Balogun of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State; Oluwatunmise Idowu of Scholars Universal Academy, Ota, Ogun State and Glory Okoli of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State.

The story of Ekoko has remained a definition of luck, because she survived elimination three times in the road to the final. The 12-year old daughter of a mathematician was described by her mother, Funmi Ekoko, as very diligent.

Her father, Eyimofe Ekoko, was very elated as he thanked God and Promasidor for the honour and opportunity given to the family.

The winner, who aspires to be a medical doctor, also expressed gratitude to God and dedicated her victory to God, her teacher, her parents and her friends for their encouragement.

“I am very happy today. I am very grateful to God who has given me the grace and power to become a star today. Indeed, the scripture: we are what we are by the grace of God, has come to fulfillment in my life today,” she told journalists outside the studio.

In the senior category, Ayooluwa Oguntade, also of The Ambassadors College, won the competition and the ultimate prize.

Oguntade ‘flew over’ Adegoke Aromolaran of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa, Osun State and AdemolaFatoke of Ota Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State, Hasanah Adeyanju of Ota Total Academy, Ota, Ogun State; Taiwo Adeyemi and Blessing Udoh both of The Ambassador College, Ota, Ogun State.

Oguntade, who has been a class captain, a class representative and now the Head Boy of his school, also ascribed his success to God and his teachers. He aspires to study Engineering in the University and run his own company.

“The top CEOs I read about studied engineering and run their companies. I also want to have an engineering degree and run my own company,” he said

The winner, who loves ‘ofada rice and beef stew’ also intends to invent a flying car to ease the gridlock, especially on Nigerian roads.

His father, Bodunrin Oguntade expressed great appreciation to God and the organisers of the competition for the initiative which he believes will shape the future of Nigerian youth.

While the winners celebrated their successes, the disappointment on the face of some of the losers was visible. Oluwatunmise Idowu, a finalist in the junior category, who crashed out after the first round of the final, betrayed her emotions and wept like a baby.

Efforts by her teacher to console her did very little for Idowu who blamed her ouster on tension and burden of expectation.

She had, earlier in the preliminary rounds set a new competition record by answering 17 questions in 60 seconds.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Olivier Thiry restated the commitment of the company to education which he said remains an important investment for the future of the children, especially the girl-child, because it allows them greater power to make informed choices.

He saluted the finalists for their excellent performance and assured that Promasidor will continue to support the academic development of Nigerian children.

The Registrar of the National Examination Council, NECO, Professor Charles Uwakwe in his remark, commended Promasidor for the Cowbellpedia initiative which he maintained will stimulate the interest of students in mathematics.

He pledged the NECO’s continuous support for the project in appreciation of what he described as Promasidor’s great Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) to Nigerian society.

The Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Festus Tettey commended NECO for its partnership on the project and noted that the company is willing to involve more stakeholders that can add value to education.

He extolled the level and quality of the competition this year and averred that the company will come up with more innovative ideas to make the competition better next year.

“We believe in the total nourishment of the body, brain and soul. Our core driving force has been giving back to society and we are happy to work with NECO, because it has improved the quality of the competition,” he said.