Jeremiah Adedoyin, a final year student at the Department of Mathematics at Lagos University, emerged as the overall winner of the 2019 National Mathematics Competition.
The National Mathematical Center (NMC) organized the competition for university students across the country.
The competition that began on 28 April featured 80 contestants from twenty universities. A total of 40 participants were awarded bronze, silver and gold medals.
Stephen Onah, NMC’s chief executive, congratulated Mr Adedoyin for his outstanding performance at the closing ceremony on Friday.
He said to other contestants, “There must be a winner and a loser in every contest, but know that you are the best in your different institutions.”
He urged them to showcase the center positively in their interactions, saying that “the knowledge gained should also be used to improve society.
“If there’s anything you’ve benefited from this program, do a good job of telling others, portray us in a good light so that more people can come to experience the same thing.”
However, the director explained that the contest was aimed at identifying the country’s best mathematics students and assisting them in their future efforts.
“This contest also helps us identify the departments that are outstanding in mathematics teaching and learning in our Nigerian university system, so we can recommend them to the outside world,” he said.
He also said the contest was not limited to public universities, but open to all universities and urged universities not involved in the contest to do so.
He said the center could identify their challenges and provide them with solutions through the program.
“So we encourage these universities to identify with us so they can understand and improve their weaknesses,” he said.
Also, the center’s Coordinator, Peter Onumanyi, said the program’s goal was to groom future mathematicians from their early years.
Therefore, he appreciated the participants for their commitment to the program and urged them to continue their hard work.
The best mathematician of the year, Adedoyin, who is also President of his Department, attributed his victory to determination and hard work.
The year’s best mathematician, Adedoyin, who is also his department’s chairman, attributed his victory to determination and hard work.
“I thank God for my victory, I didn’t know I’m going to be this contest’s winner. But I’m just setting my mind to go for gold and nothing less,” he said.
