Education
The Untold Story of 2017 Cowbellpedia Finalists
The intellectual contest for the 2017 Mathematics Champion will be concluded this weekend as 12 finalists go for the titles in the final contest of the Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show, sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand from Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
The finalists – six each in the Junior and Senior categories – represent eight states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Rivers State tops the chart with three representatives while Ogun State has two. Benue, Osun, Abia, Kaduna, Ondo, Niger States and the FCT have one representative each.
At the end of the last semi-final, Joel Ndoh of Marist Brothers Juniorate, Aba, Abia State and Olayinka Abdulwakil of Nigerian Tulip International College Kaduna, Kaduna State completed the list of the six finalists in the Junior category.
The other finalists in the Junior category include Osasere Egharevba and Jessey Uche-Nwichi both of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Ezekiel Ekanem of Advanced Breed Group of Schools, Sagamu, Ogun State and Oluwafemi Adeyanju of Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In the Senior category, Ikechukwu Ibeh of Federal Government College, Suleja, Niger State and Evans Owamoyo of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State picked the final two slots.
Other finalists in the Senior category are Tomiwa Olatunbosun of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State; Munachi Ernest-Eze of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja; Oluwanifise Onafowokan of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State and Michael Paul of Excel Grace Academy, Gboko, Benue State.
The road to the final has been exciting, challenging and emotional for the contestants who are slugging it out for the crown.
Not a few of the contestants have been variously described as cool, calm, intelligent, hardworking, resolute and ambitious. For instance, 14-year-old Adeyanju scored 92 percent in the qualifying examinations, 175 points in the preliminary round and 145 points in the semi-final. His father, Oladipupo Adeyanju, described him as a “lover of challenges” as he expressed confidence in his ability to excel at the final. The same sentiment was expressed by his mother, Ajifolawe Adeyanju, who looked forward to the “big celebration and thanksgiving” that will follow the victory.
Abdulwakil who scored 98 per cent in the qualifying exam said he was scared by the suspense created by the Quiz Master before he announced his qualification for the finals. He scored 140 points in the semi-finals
His mathematics teacher, Bello Yakubu was happy about his feat and confident of a “fantastic outing” at the final. The same sentiment was expressed by his School Principal, Ahmed Omeroglu who also commended Promasidor for the initiative.
Ekanem, 14, who scored 98 per cent in the qualifying examinations, scored 130 points in the semi-finals. Bosede Ogunfowoke, the Proprietor of his school, believed his success at the final would promote the image of the school and that of the town, Sagamu. Lasisi Abu, Ekanem’s teacher, described him as very intelligent and bold for the battle ahead.
Uche-Nwichi, 13, promised to dedicate his victory to God and his parents. His father, Chukwu Uche-Nwichi, advised him to concentrate, relax and enjoy every moment of the final battle.
Ndoh’s mother, Juliet, described him as inquisitive and intelligent enough to win the competition. She advised her son to be composed and confident.
Egharevba, also 13 years old, scored 135 points to scale the semi-final hurdle. Mugene Augustine, her teacher, described her as a “no nonsense, passionate Mathematician,” while her mother, Mercy Egharevba prayed for God’s mercy for her at the final.
Ernest-Eze, the 2015 Junior category champion, is the first ex-champion to come back as a finalist. His father, Ikechukwu Ernest-Eze, who wept two years ago when his son was crowned champion, described his son as a child with a difference. “He should keep up the good work; and I hope he wins again,” he said.
Fifteen-year-old Owamoyo scored 160 points to cross the semi-final hurdle, and his father, Dapo Owamoyo was very proud of his feat. His mother, Bunmi Owamoyo, counselled him to pray and work hard for the final.
Ibeh, who garnered 145 points at the semi-finals, described Ernest-Eze as the biggest obstacle and threat to his ambition of becoming the 2017 champion.
Paul, on his part, saw all the senior finalists as threats but was confident of a good outing next weekend. Tyoor Joseph Ahua, the District Head of Mbatan-Gboko community, described Paul as “the star of the community”, now waiting to celebrate him as a champion.
Korede Onafowokan, the father of Oluwanifise, described her as “unique in her own way”, while her teacher, Kolawole Bello, who, shed tears when she qualified for the final, called her a genius and perfectionist. Her mother, Adejoke Onafowokan advised her to be bold because “God has not given her the spirit of fear.”
Olatunbosun, who, as a child, preferred to be called ‘President Tomiwa’, scored 135 points to cross to the final. Jeremiah Kehinde, his teacher, said Mathematics is fun for Olatunbosun and he was confident of a brilliant performance at the final.
The ultimate prize in the two 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.
The finals of the 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematic TV Quiz will be aired this weekend to millions of viewers on DStv Africa Magic Family Channel, AIT Network and other six television stations across the country.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The Federal Ministry of Education made the announcement on Monday in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boriowo Folasade.
The ministry announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, with the Ministry acknowledging the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public since the planned increase became known.
The Ministry said the proposed fee review was driven by rising operational costs that have accumulated over several years without a corresponding adjustment to examination registration fees.
It said the current fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in costs covering logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
“The proposed review was informed by the prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations,” the statement said.
“The current examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational costs,” the Ministry added.
The ministry said the proposed fee hike will no longer take effect as earlier planned, while acknowledging that the concerns raised by Nigerians warranted a pause in the process.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the statement confirmed, adding that the June 18 letter conveying the proposed adjustment has been formally withdrawn.
“This decision underscores the Ministry’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and reflect the collective interest of the nation,” it said.
The Ministry outlined a fresh stakeholder engagement process that must be concluded before any decision on examination fees is made, signalling that the review has been delayed rather than permanently shelved.
The Ministry said it will engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders as part of the renewed consultation process.
It said the goal of the consultation is to ensure that any future decision is “fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing realities while safeguarding access to education,” framing the suspension as a course correction rather than an outright reversal of policy intent.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education,” the statement read.
The Ministry assured Nigerians it would keep the public fully informed throughout the consultation process, saying the welfare of students and equitable access to quality education “remain at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the education sector.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The examination fees of Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have been increased by the federal government by about 82 per cent to N50,000 from N27,500.
A circular signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, disclosed that the new fees would become effective in 2027.
In the notice, it was disclosed that the government approved the upward review of the fees following a request by WAEC.
It was further disclosed that the decision to jack up the fees was reached after a March 31, 2026, meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of N50,000 only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027,” it added.
**Modibbo Adama University Emerges Grand Prize Winner, Secures N50m
A leading integrated independent exploration and production company with full-cycle upstream delivery capability, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s next generation of engineers.
This commitment was highlighted during the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event recognised outstanding student innovators whose engineering solutions addressed real-world challenges, marking the culmination of months of regional qualifiers, prototype development, mentorship and boot camp sessions that equipped students from universities and polytechnics across Nigeria with practical skills in engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Olympiad attracted 984 participants across 375 teams from more than 80 tertiary institutions representing all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Delivering the sponsor’s address, the General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects, FIRST E&P, John Alamu, emphasised that the competition reflects the company’s commitment to equipping students with the practical knowledge and innovative mindset required to excel in engineering and strengthen Nigeria’s future workforce.
Alamu, noting that initiatives such as the Engineering Olympiad provide a structured platform for young talent to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions that contribute to the country’s technological and industrial advancement, stated that, “FIRST E&P believes that developing STEM capacity is an investment in this country’s ability to solve its own problems. The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad has taken young engineers and taught them to think beyond the drawing board, and FIRST E&P is proud to have been a funding partner for this initiative. I commend NCDMB for championing the Olympiad and Enactus Nigeria for successfully delivering a platform that is helping shape the next generation of Nigerian engineers and innovators.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Silas Ajimijaye, expressed appreciation to FIRST E&P for their unwavering support in successfully delivering the Olympiad.
Ajimijaye added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, which aims to build indigenous engineering capacity and equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to drive industrial competitiveness, technological advancement, and sustainable national development.
The competition concluded in the awarding of prizes, with Team Mavericks of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Adamawa State, winning the grand prize of N50 million and a Centre of Excellence building for its Faculty of Engineering.
The team’s winning innovation, Ubuntu Sapphire, is a community-powered rapid alert system that uses affordable devices to instantly notify neighbouring households and emergency responders during emergencies, offering a practical solution aimed at strengthening community security and emergency response infrastructure.
Speaking after receiving the award, Team Lead, Dr David Patrick, expressed gratitude to the organisers and sponsors for providing a platform that fostered innovation and practical learning.
The University of Ibadan emerged as the first runner-up, receiving N30 million and N75 million worth of engineering equipment for its Faculty of Engineering. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, secured third place and was awarded N20 million and N50 million worth of engineering equipment. The University of Jos finished fourth, receiving N10 million.
