Oluwatunmise Idowu, a 13 year old student of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State last week, stunned the organisers of the on-going 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show with her record-breaking performance in one of the preliminary rounds.
Idowu, the daughter of a Mathematics teacher, slugged it out in Group B with Ayomide Nafisat Abdulwaheed, a JSS 3 female student of Reality High School, Osogbo, Osun State; Olajide Osoba of Atlantic Hall, Epe, Lagos State; Edidiong Okon of Topfaith International Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Charles Adesoba of Petoa City College, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State; and Vanessa Ibol of NOWA Secondary School, New Kashi, Nassarawa State.
Osoba, the only male contestant in the group crashed out after the first round to pave way for an all-female encounter in the second round. This involved a test of contestants’ speed and accuracy as they were required to answer as many questions as possible in 60 seconds.
Idowu in ‘battle’ with Abduwaheed and Okon, eventually answered 17 questions in one minute to beat the record of 15/60 seconds set last year by Ayodeji Akinkuowo of Adeyemi Demonstration College, Ondo State. Akinkuowo eventually won the competition. She scored 145 points, 35 points ahead of Okon and 40 points ahead of Abduwaheed who eventually crashed out at this stage.
Idowu who said she spends four hours practicing Mathematics every day, also hope to win the crown this year. “I want to win. My parents want me to win, just like my school also wants me victorious,” she said.
She is confident of her ability and prays she is able to maintain the current momentum till the final. “Winning the crown will be the greatest gift I want from God this year. Apart from the one million naira prize, the bragging right in my school and among my friends will be inestimable. I can’t wait for the glorious moment. I pray for God’s favour,” Idowu remarked.
The airing of the programme continues this weekend on both cable and local stations. It will air on AIT Network on Saturday, 7. 00p.m; TVC, Saturday, 7. 00p.m; NTA Onitsha, Sunday, 5. 00p.m; STV Jos, Sunday, 5.00 p.m.; NTA Kano, Saturday, 2.00 p.m.; and DSTV Channel 154 on Saturday, 9.00 p.m.
Promasidor Nigeria Limited has been lauded for investing in this initiative which is aimed at discovering and celebrating young scientists and inventors in the country
In the 2015 edition, students of Adeyemi Demonstration Secondary School, Ondo, Ondo state and Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja emerged winners.
