By Tare Youdeowei

THE National Mathematics Competition centre (NMC) successfully organised a first of its kind event, a day of 2000 medals which took place at the prestigious International Conference Centre Abuja recently. The activities for the day were the 2015 National Rubik’s Cube Championship Competition, the First National Olympiads Award for Secondary Schools and the Investiture of First Distinguished Fellow of NMC.

Goodness Udotong & Oluwafunmilayo Eluyera, emerge National Female mathematicians

The competition which aims to, among other things, encourage female students to study mathematics via solving the brain tasking Ruby Cube in 30 seconds was stiffly competed among the students who are best in their schools across the nation.

Despite the stiff competition the duo of Goodness Udotong and Oluwafunmilayo Eluyera of krisbethel College emerged victorious against all odds.

They share their success story with Vanguard Learning on the 12th Valedictory Service and Prize Giving Day of their school where Goodness graduated as the best graduating student and Funmi assumed the position of the school head girl.

Preparation: Udotong spoke of reading four hours a day; “preparing for the competition was stressful. I was done with WAEC so I had to shuffle between school and home. We were given a special book designated for the competition from the maths centre to use to prepare.

I spent four hours a day reading and sometimes I taught other students with me in the competition.” While Eluyera says doing the right thing at the right time is the way to go. “My time is segmented for chores, relaxing and reading. I always do the right thing at the right time, so it was easy for me to cope with preparing for the competition and my regular studies.”

Challenge: Goodness didn’t let peer pressure or being seen as a book worm get to her, she waded through it thus; “My parents were strict they supervised and still keep supervising me well. I barely entertained visitors to avoid distractions. Am not very social because I take time to study people, because of my limited number of friends I was not distracted, I was able to stay focused.”

In the same vein Funmi spoke of her supportive parents; “my parents spurred me on, without them and God there is no way I would have coped.” Suffice to say with the support of parents, without strong arming them to do their parents desire, with love, children can achieve great heights.

Lauding their efforts, the Proprietress Krisbethel College, Akinogun, Ipaja, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo said; “you have won for the school a silver medal in the Pan-African National Mathematics for Girls Olympiad Competition held nationwide for 2015. We did not do it alone of course. All along we had the wonderful support of your parents who helped to complement our efforts in the school. This feat is anchored on not taking anything for granted.

“We implore you to showcase your talents and beliefs wherever you may find yourselves. You must be ready to take chances and proceed towards different routes. You must be ready to update your knowledge, add to your skills and be ready to cope with persistent and recurring changes. That is the challenge before you and it is one that you will meet in your different areas of endeavour.”

The ladies who shone at the Olympiad, which affords the Federal Government to spot gifted and talented students as well as identify innovations that can be invested on, implored females nationwide; “No matter what, believe in yourself, work as hard as you can.” Goodness said, as Funmi advised; “Stop being scared of maths, it is just a subject like any other, put your attention to it and it would become easy.”