Brilliant outings from their representatives raised the stakes and pushed Ogun, Osun and Kaduna states into the semi-finals of the on-going Season 5 of the Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics Television Quiz Show sponsored by Cowbell Milk, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.
In the junior category preliminary Group D contest last weekend, Master Alonge Esmond of Scholars Universal College, Ota, Ogun State and Sirajo Salihi Mohammed of the Nigerian Tulip International College, Kaduna boys, Kaduna State smashed the barrier to cross into the semi-finals.
The duo shrugged off the fierce challenge from Azubuko Ekene from Baptist High School, Nagaruta, Jos, Plateau State; and Nwakpu Augustine, a student of Community Secondary School, Amana, Ebonyi State.
Others contestants who fell by the wayside include Okwuego Ugochukwu of the Nigerian Tulip International College for Boys, Abuja and Olaogun Doyin from Petoa City College, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The senior category battle produced Famuyiwa Henry of Model Secondary School Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State and Olabisi Ilesanmi Hezekiah, a student of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State as semi-finalists.
The feat by the duo left four of their counterparts out of the contest. These include Chibueze Okejiri from Marist Brothers’ Juniorate, Uturu, Abia State; Mohammed Isa from Quintessential College, Ibadan, Oyo State; Ogundele Favour of Chapel Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State and Okario Michael of Glory Kids Academy, Kaduna, Kaduna State.
Alonge who garnered 125 points to advance, aspires to become a Computer Engineer and habours high expectation of winning the ultimate prize. “I seriously desire to win. If I win, I will keep the money for my education,” he said.
Famuyiwa was confident of his chances to become the champion, adding that his expectation is nothing short of the ultimate prize to honour his school and his parents.
The quiz show which will run for 13 weeks is divided into nine preliminary stages and three semi-finals before the grand finale in November 2019. The organisers also promised that this year’s edition would be more educative and fun-filled as Cowbellpedia is committed to “nurturing great inventors”.
Aside the N2 million grand prize, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr Anders Einarsson disclosed that the winner in each of categories, (junior and senior) will enjoy an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country at the end of the initiative.
In addition, the first and second runners-up in each category will receive N1.5 million and N1 million respectively, while the teachers of the top prize winners will be awarded N500, 000. Those of the first and second runners-up will receive N400, 000 and N300, 000 respectively.
The 2019 edition of Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematic TV Quiz continues this weekend. It will be aired on DSTV Africa Magic Family Channel, AIT Network and other six television stations across the country.
