Momentum in intellectual prowess during the weekend occupied British Spring College , Awka, as the ‘2024 BSC Mathematics Competition’ among primary five and primary six pupils ended with the Final examination emerging the Stars of the Day.
The 7th edition of the competition which was themed “Discover the Stars Within” had a total of four hundred and thirty-two pupils from primary schools in Nigeria competing for the overall Best pupil, News Echo reports.
The competition was initiated in two categories; the BSC Mathematics Scholarship Competition and the Lady Uju Dike Scholarship Scheme.
Both had the First price – two hundred thousand nairas and one hundred per cent scholarship, second price of one hundred thousand nairas and 75 per cent scholarship and the third for fifty thousand nairas plus fifty per cent scholarship, (all in cash prices) respectively.
Filing answers to newsmen on what informed her decisions to set up such a unique and huge competition, the Director, of British Spring College, Awka, Lady Linda Uju Dike said the inspiration was borne out of her love for quality education as a mother. “I decided to do something special for all the kids in Southeast. God has been fruitful.
It’s all about giving back and appreciating God. This program is fully sponsored by British Spring College, I didn’t go looking for sponsors, if I am looking for one some banks will be here but when I do that I am not feeling the impact of the scholarship.
I need to bless other families for what God has been doing for us here. And also I want to reward excellence and hard work”.
Advising some of the pupils who were shading tears, Lady Dike disclosed “If you here today, know that you are special and brilliant, all the pupils that took the examination today, are all the same level academically, is just that in every competition there must be a winner.
For some of them who didn’t make it to the top three or win any scholarship at all, I want to tell them they shouldn’t give up, they didn’t get to win the prizes today doesn’t mean they won’t win it some other time. God will definitely locate them and place them where they would be at the end of the day”.
“As for the winner, I say a very big congratulations to them and their families, we hope to see them in September and then continue the good work”, she added.
Mr Hillary Ononye, Mathematics teacher, at SpringField Academy Onitsha who spoke on the secret behind his pupils emerging overall Best in the competition pointed out hard work, enthusiasm and the teacher knowing the skills in order to transfer them to the pupils is of major priority. “I expect the school to keep on nurturing them to become better and expose them to more competitions to become better than they were”.
Some of the parents who spoke to newsmen while expressing happiness lauded the management of British Spring College for such the golden opportunity.
Alfa Radio Fm, Nnobi reporter, Mr Emmanuel Asiegebunam said “I am so proud and excited that my son Asiegbumam Chimdalu fortune came 3rd out of over four hundred pupils, it’s something great. Chimdalu right from his early primary years, has exhibited that inclination for maths and this was an opportunity for him to show up. His ability to withstand stress, endless nights, sometimes I woke up at midnight to see him reading.
He is one hundred per cent focused on winning, and attending BSC Academy. I also thank the school for such a wonderful opportunity given to the pupils.
Chimdalu, crying profusely said he was not happy because he promised his father to take the first position which he couldn’t achieve. When asked how he would feel studying at British International School on a 50 per cent discount, Chimdalu stated that he feels a bit happy but promised he has a task to study extremely hard.
Nwechi Valencia, winner of the Lady Uju Dike Scholarship scheme from Springfield Academy Onitsha, said he feels happy and sad at the same time because he didn’t get the best score. “It took me almost two years to prepare for this exam because I really wanted to study at British Spring College, Awka”.
Meanwhile, the overall best pupil in the BSC Mathematics Competition, Ukeachu Precious Chidimma from Diamond Special School Owerri received two hundred thousand naira in cash price, an award and one hundred per cent scholarship while the teacher gets one hundred and fifty thousand naira (150,000), and the school gets a brand new printer.
2nd position, Udo Jacob Godslove from the same Diamond Special School Owerri got one hundred thousand naira cash prize, an award and a seventy-five thousand naira discount while the school got a brand new printer and the teacher seventy-five thousand naira.
3rd position, Asiegbunam Chimdalu, received fifty thousand naira cash price, a 50% discount scholarship and a ward, the teacher thirty thousand naira and the school received a brand new printer. Also, 3rd position is Mercel Chimbuchi from BEST BRAIN SCHOOLS.
Others were, in 4th position, Adekunle Emmanuel with a score of 90% and Marcel Chimbuchi, 5th position with an average of 87.75% among others went home with medals.
However, Diamond Special, Owerri, God’s Wisdom Nnewi, Mabel Divine, Nnewi, Dream, Towers Abakiliki, Fountain of Light Nnewi, International Nur/Pri Enugu, Best Brain School Onitsha, Mercil Special School Onitsha, Smarch Demonstration onitsha, Limitless Owerri and Immaculate Conception schools participated in the competition.
