By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Three pupils from Founders International Academy, including 11-year-old Retji Cishak, a grade five pupil, came top in the 12th Annual National Mathematics competition organized by the Nigeria-Turkish International Colleges and the National Mathematics Centre, Abuja. Cishak beat over 8,500 others and emerged the overall best during the Northern Zone second stage competition where competitors were drawn from both public and private primary schools from the 19 states in the zone.

Cishak won a gold medal, full scholarship into the Nigeria-Turkish International Colleges, NTIC as well as a N150,000 prize money, his school equally got a photocopy machine and a National Merit Award plaque while his class teacher went home with N100,000.

Two other pupils from the school, Esther Jackson and Selchang Dassak came 10th and 12th respectively in the same competition with Jackson winning 100 per cent scholarship in tuition, a Merit plaque, a bronze medal and a cash prize of N40,000, while Dassak went home with 100 percent scholarship on tuition, a Merit plaque, a bronze medal and a cash prize of N35,000.

Commending the efforts of the teachers for giving the right attention to the pupils, the Managing Director, Founders International Academy, Mr. Lucky Momoh, said “this remarkable feat depicts the high level of commitment to academic excellence in Founders International Academy and we will not rest on our oars but will keep improving on our standards so that our pupils can continue to excel and get to the peak.”

Meanwhile, the overall winner, Retji Cishak, who said he wants to be a Mechanical Engineer in the future, acknowledged his Mathematics teacher, Mr. Isa Mudi, as his mentor saying “my Mathematics teacher motivated me to pick interest in the subject as he takes extra time to simplify the subject and build confidence in me that I can learn and understand Mathematics. I know what I stand to gain if I pay more attention to the subject.”