The challenge was exciting and dramatic last weekend as students from Kaduna, Niger, Ondo and Abia States completed the list of 12 finalists for the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand from Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
In the Junior category, Joel Ndoh of Marist Brothers Juniorate, Aba, Abia State; Olayinka Abdulwakil of Nigerian Tulip International College Kaduna, Kaduna State and Greatman Nwachukwu of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State scaled the first-round hurdle, while Nwachukwu exited in the second round to pave way for Ndoh and Abdulwakil in the final.
Hezekiah Ilesanmi of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State; Joseph Agom of Top Faith International Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and Fuad Alaka of Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos who recorded a perfect score in the qualifying examination, did not make it pass the first round.
Abdulwakil, who was excited by his feat, prayed for more grace to excel at the finals. “I am relieved, but my ultimate aim is to win and become the 2017 champion. So, help me God” he remarked.
Ndoh, who is featuring in the competition for the first time, also prayed for God’s guidance as he looks forward to wearing the crown.
The Senior category produced straight winners after Ikechukwu Ibeh of Federal Government College, Suleja, Niger State and Evans Owamoyo of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State triumphed over Favour Abusomwan of Iganmode Grammar School (Senior) Ota, Ogun State in the second round of the semi-finals.
Franklin Ezenduka of College of Immaculate Conception, Uwani, Enugu State; Favour Ajibola of Model Secondary School, Akure, Ondo State and Emmanuel Mebude of Ogunlade Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos, who had earlier set a new record by answering 17 questions in 60 seconds, could not go beyond the first round of the semi-finals.
At the end of the third semi-final last weekend, Rivers State led the pack of finalists in both categories with three representatives, followed by Ogun State with two, while Benue, Osun, Abia, Kaduna, Ondo, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja had one representative each.
The star prize in the Senior and Junior categories is N1 million each and an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country. The first and second runners-up for each category will go home with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.
Each teacher of the 2017 champion will be awarded N400,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will each receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. Also, the winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
The 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematic TV Quiz continues this weekend. It will be aired to millions of viewers on DSTv Africa Magic Family Channel, AIT Network and other six television stations across the country.