Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell milk, has announced its readiness to host this year's edition of its Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition - NASSMAC, promising a bigger and better competition and rewards this year. The Executive Director (Commercial) of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Kachi Onubogu announced this at a press briefing in Lagos to kick-start activities leading to the 2014 edition of the nationwide competition aimed at encouraging the teaching, learning and study of mathematics and other sciences among secondary school students across Nigeria.
 
Unarguably Nigeria's longest running mathematics competition for secondary schools, Onubogu stated that this year's edition of NASSMAC is holding within precincts of the 20th anniversary of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

"We are therefore ready to make it big and a landmark that it is," he said, adding that "This iconic competition is already in its 14th year and we are excited about the level of achievement we have made thus far and we are set to celebrate it big."

According to Onubogu, the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition - NASSMAC, which is in its 14th years of consecutive running has come to stay as a veritable tool for promoting the study of mathematics as a subject among Nigerian students and the public in general.

"NASSMAC has come to be the focal point of the teaching, learning, study and development of mathematics in Nigeria. It is the foundation upon which our journey to economic recovery and prudence must be built if we want to advance as a nation and take our rightful place among developed nations of the world. The importance of mathematics to our development and advancement as a developing economy cannot be over-emphasized. It is the basis of our development pursuits. It is fundamental to every aspect of our life as a nation. We need it in everything we do," he said.

He further explained that though his organisation (Promasidor Nigeria Limited is happy and satisfied with its pre-occupation of providing nutrition to improve lives in the country, however, he added that the company is only happy also to take on the additional task of providing food for the soul and intellectual development of the populace.

We have been driven by a vision to nourish the dreams of the Nigerian child. This begins at the doorstep of fortifying our Cowbell milk with the special VitaRich formula; a special blend of vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. Beyond providing the nutrition children need to realise their dreams, we have invested in NASSMAC to unlock the brilliance in the Nigerian child. We believe in the popular adage that says, 'a healthy mind resides in a healthy body' and this is why we provide the quality nutrition to help build the body and the mind."


Going down memory lane, Onubogu recalled the immense support, assistance and collaboration the organisers of the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition - NASSMAC has received from parents, teachers, students, the media and other stakeholders since the inception of the competition 14 years ago. He said the event which began in Lagos alone in 1998 has not only spread its tentacles to cover the entire country, but has "seen over 260,000 students sit for the examination and the number keep rising," he said.

He said Promasidor alone would not have achieved this huge success without the support of the aforementioned. "The selfless participation of teachers, members of the press, our participating agencies, staff and many more could only have achieved this feat," he enthused.

In his keynote speech, the Director -General and Chief Executive of the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, Prof. Adewale Solarin hailed Promasidor Nigeria Limited as an organisation after his heart, because of what he described as the company's "undying resolve to participate fully in the efforts of my organization to achieve its laudable mandate over the years. Promasidor has earned itself an enviable position on the roll call of our partners in progress.

While encouraging other corporate organizations to emulate the Promasidor example, Prof. Solarin stated that his organization has expended much effort towards the improvement of the scientific and technological enterprise in this great nation. We have extended hands of friendship to many organizations in the spirit of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) policy of the Federal Government, I must confess that response from other organizations had not been encouraging. I therefore wish to once again implore private organizations in this country to, in the spirit of the Vision 20:2020 of the Federal Government, and for the fact that they are also beneficiaries of the end-products of mathematics and mathematical sciences, lend a hand in these efforts for greater Nigeria."

On her part, Manager, Dairy Category of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Abiola Inawo presented the audience with the rich history of the 14 years of NASSMAC and counting. Her presentation highlighted the landmark achievements that have been made and how the organizers had scaled the hurdles along its path even as NASSMAC journeys to greater heights.

According to her the competition is open to all students between ages 10 – 18 years in JSS3 and SSS2 attending full time secondary education in government approved schools in Nigeria.

The first stage examination for this year’s competition will hold on Saturday March 15, 2014 in 200 centres in the 36 states and the Federal capital, adding that details of the 200 centres while the second stage examination will take place on Saturday May 14, 2014 in four regions across the country.

The final prize-giving award ceremony is scheduled to hold at the prestigious Le’ Meridian Hotel, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State on Thursday June 26, 2014. At this occasion, the best 10 students from each category at the second stage examination will be celebrated as COWBELL MATHEMATICIANS in the presence of all stakeholders including the Minister of Education will be awarded prizes.

Alhaji Razak A. Jimoh, the Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria enjoined Nigerians to embrace mathematics describing it as one of the simplest subjects. He want all to disregard the myth behind mathematics as a subject and begin to see it as "fun that it is from now."

While appreciating Promasidor for the good work the company is doing promoting and encouraging the teaching and learning of mathematics in Nigeria, Alhaji Razak Jimoh further tasked the company to up the ante by way of organizing seminars and refresher courses for mathematics teachers to constantly update their knowledge in a fast changing world.

Last year's winner of the senior category, Akindele Nasir Oyedele thanked Promasidor and everyone involved in the conception and organisation of the Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics

Competition - NASSMAC. "Winning the award has really exposed me to a lot of things. It has not only improved my performance and interest in mathematics, I have had experiences I would never have been privileged to have if not for NASSMAC. I cannot adequately describe how the award has influenced my life. I thank Promasidor for this concept and the award," he said.


Iyoha Omonzopia, a student of Loyola Jesuit College Abuja who emerged winner of the junior category last year echoed his senior colleague's words: "It's been a nice experience for me. Though this award, I've met a lot of people. It's really been wonderful and richly engaging for me. I thank Promasidor for everything."