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Impatience Reason Behind Fear of Mathematics—Cowbellpedia Contestant

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The phobia for Mathematics among students arises from the lack of patience to understand its formulae, Master Samuel Faith Adelaja of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State has revealed.

Adelaja, who is participating in the on-going 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, explained that Mathematics is more about logic and critical thinking.

He noted that students get frustrated with the subject because it takes time and requires patience to know it.

Adelaja explained that, “Students will get on with Mathematics if they practice daily or regularly. It takes time, but they should not be discouraged. The fact is that they don’t know that it requires a lot of perseverance. So, when they don’t get solutions on time, they feel depressed and frustrated.”

In the 9th preliminary group contest of the senior category few days ago, Adelaja and Franklin Ezenduka of College of Immaculate Conception, Uwani, Enugu State got the semi-final slots at the expense of Ekene Onyekaba of Kings College, Onikan Lagos State.

Others who fell short were Abdulmueez Yusuf of NITC, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory; Aisha Salisu of Michael Omonogun Memorial Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State and Shedrack Dauda of SSSLID Science Schools, Badariya, Kebbi State.

Adelaja, a semi-finalist in the Junior category of the 2015 edition, was confident of his chances this time around.

“My expectation is to be the champion. I have won six prizes in other competitions, but Cowbellpedia remains my ultimate dream,” he told journalists outside the studio in Lagos.

Ezenduka, whose dream is to be a civil engineer, is driving himself towards winning the ultimate prize. “I feel cool scaling this hurdle. I really thank God. But my ultimate ambition is to be the 2017 Cowbellpedia champion,” he said.

In the junior category, Greatman Nwachukwu of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State; and Osasere Egharevba of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State scaled the hurdle into the semi-finals.

They left behind Oluwafunmito Adedeji of Obafemi Awolowo University Staff School, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Wisdom Ede of Logos International Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State; Muhammed Anas of Community Science Secondary School, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State and Ahmad Ado of Jigawa Sate Academy for the Gifted, Bamaina, Jigawa State.

Nwachukwu, who got a response time of 2.17 seconds, scored 98 percent in the qualifying examination conducted nationwide in March 2017. He aspires to win the ultimate prize and make his family and State proud.

Egharevba, who also scored 98 percent in the qualifying examination, described the experience as “great and exciting.” The 13-year-old expresses hope to qualify for the final and wear the crown. “I feel very happy to scale the hurdle, especially being my first time of participating in the competition. I hope to get to the final. I have prayed and practiced alot,” she said.

The ultimate prize in the Senior and Junior categories is N1 million each and an all-expense-paid educational excursion outside the country. The first and second runners-up for each category will go home with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.

Each teacher of the 2017 champions will be awarded N400,000, while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. Also, the winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.

The 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematic TV Quiz continues this weekend. It will be aired to millions of viewers on DSTv Africa Magic Family Channel, AIT Network and other six television stations across the country.

Parents and stakeholders in the education sector have also lauded Promasidor Nigeria for bankrolling the initiative which is aimed at discovering as well as celebrating young scientists and future inventors in the country.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

Education

Study Reveals Scalable Path to Quality Early Learning to Every Child

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quality early learning

A new study released by a non-profit firm, SmartStart, has revealed compelling evidence that early learning programmes run in homes and community venues could significantly boost children’s outcomes, even at scale.

The findings underscored the critical role that could be played by accessible, community-based early childhood education in breaking the cycle of educational inequality.

A team of independent researchers found that the proportion of children “on track” increased by a remarkable 20 points from 45% to 65%, while the proportion of those “falling far behind” nearly halved.

The study’s most striking revelation is the dramatic reduction in the achievement gap between children from low- and high-income households, falling from 25 points to just 6 points. This substantial narrowing represents more than a statistical triumph; it demonstrates a powerful mechanism for social mobility and educational equity.

“These findings show the transformative role that can be played by women living in low-income contexts when they are empowered to deliver early learning programmes in their homes and other community settings. The study therefore has profound implications for policymakers because it shows an affordable, scalable path to early learning for every child,” says Grace Matlhape, Chief Executive Officer of SmartStart. “Accessible, high-quality early learning programmes have the potential to break intergenerational cycles of educational disadvantage, offering children from all backgrounds a more level playing field for future academic and personal success.”

Commenting on the study, Chief Director for Foundations for Learning in the Department of Basic Education, Kulula Manona, observed that “this study shines a light on the incredible potential of our children when provided with the right developmental and learning opportunities. It also underscores the critical role of community-based early learning programmes, and the dedicated practitioners who deliver them, in bridging the early learning access gap”.

Researchers for the study, including Professor Sarah Chapman from University of Cape Town as the principal investigator, used South Africa’s Early Learning Outcomes Measure (ELOM) to track the progress of 551 children in SmartStart ELPs over an eight-month period. The results revealed that the SmartStart cohort outperformed the national Thrive by Five Index benchmark, a monitoring tool developed to track early childhood development progress in South Africa, providing robust evidence that well-designed, community-integrated early learning programmes can deliver scalable and measurable improvements in child development..

“The implications of this study demonstrate that effectiveness isn’t contingent on costly infrastructure and equipment, but on empowering practitioners with the right tools, skills and support. Simple, everyday practices, including nurturing care, lots of talk, and child-centered play, can transform outcomes for young children,” Chapman adds.

“The crucial thing about the SmartStart model is that it honours the inherent strengths of our communities. Our programmes run in homes and community venues, which means they offer an immediate and affordable solution to close the access and quality gaps for excluded children. This underscores the need for governments to establish enabling policy and funding frameworks that recognise and support these practitioners where they are,” says Matlhape.

Celebrating its tenth year of impact, the SmartStart network currently has over 13,000 ELPs serving over 125,000 children, every week. Its network model is deeply rooted in social capital and community empowerment, underpinned by the principle of meeting communities where they are and leveraging their existing assets.

“Today we salute the extraordinary ordinary women across our network who are using simple but transformative practices every day, to create a better future for young children. These women are powerful agents of change, beacons of hope for future generations,” Matlhape emphasises.

“We also salute the dedication of our implementing partners, and the unwavering support of communities who stand united for their children. Their collective efforts show the power of a collaborative implementation model to transcend socio-economic barriers and, ultimately, to bridge the equity gap in early learning.”

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Education

Quidax, Tether Drive Blockchain Education in Africa

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Quidax

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A strategic partnership has been entered into between Africa’s leading crypto exchange, Quidax, and largest company in the digital asset industry, Tether, to enhance blockchain education in Africa by equipping users with knowledge about Bitcoin and stablecoins, starting in Nigeria and Ghana.

Through this collaboration, Quidax and Tether aim to empower over 15,000 people and businesses with the knowledge to leverage digital assets.

The collaboration will include financial literacy campaigns, thought leadership, interactive workshops, and community engagement efforts designed to equip users with the knowledge to navigate the digital asset ecosystem safely and effectively.

Quidax and Tether are working toward a more inclusive and empowered financial ecosystem in Africa by fostering financial literacy and expanding access to digital assets education.

USDT, a dollar-pegged stablecoin, plays a crucial role in financial inclusion by providing stability amid currency volatility and enabling seamless cross-border payments.

With Africa emerging as a key player in the global crypto economy, this collaboration aligns with the region’s growing demand for digital financial education.

“With rising interest in digital assets across Africa, stablecoins like USDT provide a reliable way for people to store value and conduct business transactions with ease.

“Collaborating with Tether allows us to bridge the knowledge gap and drive broader education of cryptocurrency in a way that benefits everyday people,” the chief executive of Quidax, Mr Buchi Okoro, said.

“At Tether, we are committed to fostering financial education and empowering communities with the tools they need to navigate the digital economy.

“Africa is at the forefront of blockchain adoption, with Ghana and Nigeria among the most prominent emerging markets. Through this collaboration with Quidax, we aim to give individuals and businesses the knowledge to leverage digital assets consciously.

“By collaborating on financial education, we are laying a foundation for a more inclusive and accessible financial ecosystem,” the chief executive of Tether, Mr Paolo Ardoino, stated.

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Education

International Scholars to Chronicle Life of Nigerian Historian Kenneth Dike

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Emmanuella Agayapong Jy’Quan Stewart

By Adedapo Adesanya

The duo of Emmanuella Agayapong, an industrial economics expert from Accra, Ghana, and Jy’Quan Stewart, an American writer and historian, are co-authoring a new biography titled The Biography of Kenneth Dike: Nigerian Pioneer in a rare cross-continental collaboration effort.

This forthcoming work aims to illuminate the life and legacy of Kenneth Onwuka Dike, a seminal figure in African historiography and Nigeria’s first indigenous Vice-Chancellor.

Kenneth Onwuka Dike (1917–1983) was instrumental in redefining African historical studies. He championed the decolonization of African history, emphasizing the importance of indigenous perspectives and oral traditions in historical research.

Dike’s tenure as the first Nigerian Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan marked a significant milestone in the nation’s academic development.

His efforts led to the establishment of the Nigerian National Archives and the Historical Society of Nigeria, institutions crucial for preserving the continent’s rich heritage.

The biography will delve into Dike’s early life in Awka, Nigeria, his academic pursuits across institutions like Fourah Bay College and the University of Aberdeen, and his pivotal role in promoting African leadership in scholarly works.

By chronicling his journey, the authors aim to shed light on Dike’s enduring impact on African historiography and higher education.

Emmanuella Agayapong brings a unique analytical perspective to the project, intertwining her expertise in industrial economics with a deep-seated passion for history and economic development. Jy’Quan Stewart, known for his dedication to uncovering unsung stories, contributes his extensive experience in historical research and advocacy.

Their partnership exemplifies an innovative approach to self-publishing, aiming to reach a global audience and inspire future generations.

This collaboration not only honors Kenneth Dike’s legacy but also sets a new precedent for international literary partnerships. By combining diverse perspectives and expertise, Agayapong and Stewart are poised to offer readers a comprehensive and insightful narrative of a man who reshaped the understanding of African history.

Emmanuella Agayapong is an industrial economics expert based in Accra, Ghana. With a passion for history and economic development, she brings a unique analytical perspective to the book.

Jy’Quan Stewart is an American writer and historian dedicated to uncovering unsung stories. His experience in historical research and advocacy makes him a vital voice in documenting Kenneth Dike’s legacy.

Together, Agayapong and Stewart are breaking new ground in self-publishing, demonstrating the power of international collaboration in historical literature.

Kenneth Dike

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