74 Students for 2nd Stage of Cowbell Mathematics Competition

On April 19, 74 students will sit for the second stage of the annual Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition. The examination is scheduled to take place at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. The 74 students are those who emerged winners in the first stage examination which held all over the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on February 16, 2008. The students are the best in both junior and senior categories of the competition. Cowbell Milk pays for the feeding, accommodation and transportation expenses of all the 74 students and their Mathematics teachers. The first stage examination was supervised by officials of State Ministry of Education, staff of Promasidor, manufacturer of Cowbell Milk, and education correspondents of print and electronic media. The result of the examination was displayed on March 27 on www.promasidor.ng.com As usual, there are two prizes. There is the state prizes for candidates who emerged as winners at the state level. State prizes are for the top three candidates in each category in the first stage examination. First prize at the state level is N15,000. Second prize is N10,000 and third prize is N5,000. In addition, winners will receive branded gift items and Cowbell milk products. Cash award will also be given to the Mathematics teacher of the first prize winners in each state for both senior and junior secondary school category. The national prizes in the junior category are as follows: First prize is N100,000, second prize is N75,000, third prize is N50,000. In the senior category, the first is N130,000, the second prize is N100,000, while the third prize is N75,000. Prizes for the schools of the winners are as follows: First prize is classroom tables and chairs, Mathematics textbooks, metal sign post. The second prize is Mathematics textbooks and metal sign post. There are consolation prizes for 14 candidates and lots of Cowbell products. Other prizes include trophies, plaques, medals, certificates, T-shirts and face caps. There is also cash award for each Mathematics teacher of the winners. The final prize giving ceremony is scheduled for May 15 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. The best ten students from each category at the second stage examination are celebrated as Cowbell Mathematicians. Speaking on the second stage examination, Mr. Femi Iraaoyah of TQA Communications, Media Consultants for Cowbell Milk, disclosed that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure that the candidates who are coming from other states are well taken care of while in Lagos. “We know from experience that many of them will be visiting Lagos for the first time. That is why we have ensured that security and conducive arrangement have been taken into consideration. We have also made arrangement for the children and their teachers to see some parts of Lagos even though they will stay for just two days.” He said the questions the students will be answering were set by a company that has demonstrated enviable track record of integrity over the years. His words: “As you would have observed Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition has become accepted both at home and abroad. This is due to the consistency of the organisers and the integrity of the company handling the examination.” In a recent press briefing, the Managing Director Promasidor, Mr. Keith Richards disclosed that the best two candidates in the senior category were sponsored by Cowbell Milk and they participated in the 2007 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad which was in Nigeria. Mr. Richards added that there is also the Benson Oweka Memorial prize in memory of Benson Oweka, the Brand Manager of Cowbell Milk who died six years ago in a plane crash in Kano. This prize goes to the school with the most consistent outstanding performance .average over a three year period. This prize is Higher Education exercise books and pens for each student of the winning school. Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition started in Lagos in 1998. In 1999 the scope of the competition was expanded to include other states. In 2001, NASSMAC became a national competition which covered the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.