According to Joseph Agom, critical thinking is all that is required to make Mathematics easy for students. This semi-finalist in the on-going 2017 Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show sponsored by Cowbell, told Vanguard News.
According to the 13 years old, ‘the subject, which has become the albatross of many students, requires less sweat and more strategic thinking and concentration. He explained that the subject is virtually the cheapest thing around him.
In addition, Agom noted that he will sometimes do without pen and paper to solve things out. “Mathematics comes naturally to me. Most times, I don’t even use my pen and paper to work because they slow me down. I use my brain more.”
Nicknamed “magician” by his school mates because of his uncommon approach to mathematics, Agom traced his love for the subject to his father who has a Ph.D in Petroleum Engineering, Vanguard News has reported.
In the fifth preliminary stage contest last weekend, Agom and Godwin Terzulum of Government Science and Technical College, Garagboghol, Benue State, moved onward to the semi-finals of the Junior category.
The duo had the better of Anastasia Ifinedo of Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State; Sharon Adichie of Royal Girls’ Academy, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Jacinta Osose of Presentation National High School, Benin City, Edo State, and Khalid Yusuf of Gobaru Academy, Katsina, Katsina State.
According to the organizers, an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country and N1 million is the ultimate prize for this year’s winners in both the Junior and Senior categories, while the first and second runners-up in each category will go home with N750,000 and N500,000 respectively.
The teachers of the 2017 champions will be awarded N400,000 each, while those of the first and second runners-up will receive N300,000 and N200,000 respectively while the winning schools will be rewarded with Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
