By Udeme Clement

The Nigerian education system is poised for greater productivity this year as Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) confirmed full scholarship for 8 students and rewarded 15 others from the South zone States, who came top in 2017 National Mathematics Competition (NMC), organised by NTIC in collaboration with National Mathematics Centre (NMC).

L-R: News Anchor of Channels Television, Ms. Ijeoma Onyeator; The Servant Leader, Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministry International (RoSGMI), Mrs. Folorunso Alakija and Head of Counseling Dept. of RoSGMI, Lady Yemisi Rufus-Giwa; at the just-concluded RoSGMI interactive session on marriage themed’ Change begins with who in marriage’ held in Lagos.

Speaking at the final prize and award ceremony of the event in Lagos, the coordinator, South West zone of 2017 NMC, Fevzi Senkal, said NTIC is a non-governmental institution operating 16 schools in six States of Nigeria and supports education as a way of giving back to the society.  “Our school has been organising this competition for the past 13years, hence this is the 14 edition of this award.

“There has been a lot of improvement in the conduct and the release of results. Eight years ago, our school started partnership with National Mathematics Centre in Abuja in the conduct of the examination nationwide.This competition was further strengthened with the collaboration with State Universal Basic Education Boards in Ogun, Oyo and Osun States”, he said.

He added, “To give a wide coverage, the whole country is divided into five zones, with NTIC Abuja  coordinating the competition in the North Central and the South East, NTIC Kano supervises the North West, NTIC Yobe supervises North East, NTIC Kaduna covers the North central while NTIC Ogun supervises the entire South west and Kwara State. The first stage of the competition held in 2016 brought over 35.000 pupils nationwide. The second round was held in March 2017, even as the second stage saw the best five pupils from each State, except Lagos with 10 qualifiers.

The competition this year has witnessed greater success. The quality of the examination has improved to the extent of being used as the yardstick to measure the performance of mathematics teachers in public schools across different education districts of the participating States. For instance, last year, the teachers, pupils and schools were recorded The rewards include cash prizes, photocopier, certificates, medals and scholarship at different stages. This is our way of giving back to the society.”

Also speaking, the Managing Director of NTIC, Mr. Orhan Kertim, said, “ NTIC is proud to support these students realise their dreams towards a better future in Nigerian society”.