After 18 years of involvement with the sponsorship of Mathematics competition in Nigeria, Cowbell Our Milk, a product from Promasidor Nigeria Limited, has consolidated its new initiative in Mathematics. Mr. Olivier Thiry, Managing Director of the company explained at the press briefing in Lagos, Promasidor has taken a strategic decision to bring all Mathematics intervention activities by Cowbell under one umbrella, COWBELLPEDIA.
Thiry added that the company would continue with its Mathematics intervention activity for Secondary Schools in Nigeria using the name Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show. He disclosed that over the years, Promasidor’s involvement in Mathematics for both Junior and Senior Secondary categories has evolved from the humble beginning of a Lagos state only examination to a nationwide examination that has received the support of the Federal Ministry of Education.
Thiry also informed that the company significantly increased the prize money for the finals for both students and teachers. This year he said, the top prize student winner in each category will go home with One Million Naira in addition to other prizes, while the teacher will be awarded Four Hundred Thousand Naira.
“All these improvements are to underscore Promasidor’s effort to provide a credible platform that discovers, recognizes and rewards excellence in Mathematics, a critical component of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria. This is in addition to the quality nutrition that is provided by the Cowbell brand for the nourishment of the Nigerian populace especially children,” he said.
In order to encourage the Girl Child Education, Thiry appealed that Mixed Secondary Schools must nominate minimum two (2) girls for each category to represent such school. “This is our own little way of encouraging the girl child to take interest in education especially the STEM courses.,” he said.
Also speaking on the occasion, Festus Tettey Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria Limited explained that other activities under Cowbellpedia include:
Cowbellpedia Radio Programme: a 5-minute interactive radio Mathematics programme on major radio stations in Nigeria to teach secondary school students rudiments of Mathematics. Also, past examination questions of WAEC and NECO are solved on this programme; and Cowbellpedia Mobile App: a multi-level mobile app that allows secondary school students to practice Mathematics questions in a fun way and everywhere. This app can be downloaded on Google Play Store and Apple Store.
According to him, the competition this year will be in two stages: Qualifying Written Examination and TV Quiz Show
Tettey added that the stage one of the Mathematics Competition is open to students from 10 – 18 years of age attending full time Secondary Education in both Public and Private Schools in Nigeria. Entry into this competition is FREE.
Each School is required to present their BEST Ten (10) students in Mathematics (five from JSS3 and five from SSS2), irrespective of sex, religion, tribe or state of origin, to enhance their chance of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.
