By Emmanuel Edukugho

ADEKUNLE Ajasin University, (AAU), Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, placed 6th among a total of 18 Nigerian Universities in the National Mathematics Competition for University students organised by the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja.

Four final year students of Mathematics — Olanubi Valentine, Dada Toyin, Adebayo Oluwaseun and Idisi Oke represented the school at the event.

While Olanubi got a silver medal, Dada and Adebayo won a bronze medal each.

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) came first in the competition, while University of Ilorin and University of Ibadan placed second and third respectively.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to conduct the official presentation of medals later this year during the flag-off ceremony of the Nigerian year of Mathematics 2011 in Abuja.

In conveying the news to the Vice Chancellor of AAU, Mr. J. A. Olofinsao, leader of the team who is a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics in the university, said that the competition had given the department opportunity to assess its level of teaching, the contents of its programme and the weaknesses of the students, hoping that the department would improve on its performance next year.

Mr. Olofinsao expressed the belief that the mathematics department would use the privilege offered by the competition to re-assess its academic, programme, its approach to teaching and the level of performance of the students for optimal performance.

He commended the Vice Chancellor, Professor Femi Mimiko, for his visionary leadership and for giving the department opportunity to partake in the competition.

The Vice Chancellor congratulated the medal winners for doing the university proud and charged them to clinch the first place in the next competition.

The competition is an annual event put together by the National Mathematical Centre to prepare high-quality future mathematicians, engender competition among students in Nigerian universities and get them ready for mathematics competitions.

Meanwhile, the Governing Council of the institution has confirmed the appointments of the Registrar and Bursar. The newly appointed Registrar is Mr. Reuben Bamidele Olotu, who joined the University as a Deputy Registrar on October, 2005. Mr. O. T. Akinterinwa is the newly appointed Bursar. He joined the services of the university as Accountant 11 on the July 1, 1988.