Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show is a Nigerian national mathematics television quiz show that debuted in 2015. It was created by Oladapo Ojo.[1][2]

Cowbellpedia
CowbellPedia logo
Created byOladapo Ojo
Based onYears 9 & Years 11 Mathematics curriculum
Developed byJustMedia Productions of DM Holdings Limited
Directed byOladapo Ojo
Presented byOscar Oyinsan, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu
Country of originNigeria
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodesSeason 1: 13 episodes x 30 min; Season 2-3: 15 episodes x 1 hour; Season 4: 16 episodes x 1 hour; Season 5-6: 14 episodes x 1 hour
Production
Executive producersSeason 1-2: Olivier Thiry, Festus Tettey, Oladapo Ojo; Season 3-4: Anders Einarsson, Festus Tettey, Oladapo Ojo; Season 5: Anders Einarsson, Mario Russo, Oladapo Ojo
ProducersOgugua Dopamu, Funmi Oladapo-Ojo
EditorsJoseph Onyia, Sam Oriabor, Bisola Akinwande, Jacob Abiiki, Austine Ogar
Running timeSeason 1: 30 minutes; Season 2-5: 1 hour
Production companyJustMedia Productions
Original release
Release2015 (2015)

Historical background

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The initiative began in 1998 as Cowbell National Secondary School Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC) when it was a written examination without a TV show.[3]

Since 1998, the Cowbell brand has been involved in promoting the study of mathematics in secondary schools across Nigeria. In the process, it has helped millions of students develop an interest in and gain a better understanding of the subject. The project is designed to identify, recognize, and reward excellence in the study of mathematics. The programme is deployed in public and private schools. It serves students between the ages of eight and eighteen.

In 2015, Promasidor Nigeria (PNG) became a sponsor of Cowbellpedia. Their sponsorship made the programme more robust. In the same year, the initiative took a new dimension when it was split into two stages. The Stage One is the Qualifying Examination (written exam in designated centres across the country) and the Stage two is the TV quiz competition.

Since 2016, Cowbell-Our Milk has decided to bring all its mathematics intervention activities under one umbrella, Cowbellpedia.[4] The top prize was increased to 2 million Nigerian Naira in 2018 so as to celebrate the 20 years anniversary of the Mathematics competition initiative.[5]

Cowbellpedia is an annual mathematics intervention for young students in Nigeria with many touch points. It is approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and endorsed by National Examination Council (NECO), the National Examination body for secondary schools in Nigeria.

After schools must have duly completed their registration on www.cowbellpedia.ng, all the eligible students are expected to write a national qualifying examination, administered by NECO, at designated centers closest to them. The results[6] are released online every 1 June, to commemorate World Milk Day.

From the students that write the examinations annually, the best 108 (54 junior and 54 senior students) converge in Lagos along with their mathematics teachers to attend the quiz show.

Objectives

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  • To demystify myths about the difficulty in studying and understanding mathematics by identifying and rewarding excellence amongst students, thereby entrenching Cowbell as the brand that delivers the needed ingredient for healthy physical growth and brain development.
  • To raise the standard of schools’ education through unbiased engaging tools that would promote sound education, using a holistic platform that is engaging, educative and entertaining.
  • To practically demonstrate the symbiotic relationship between Mathematics and Technology, thereby sustaining a keen interest of schools, parents, teachers and other stakeholders, in ensuring good education for their children.

Cowbellpedia National Qualifying Examination

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After schools must have duly completed their registration on www.cowbellpedia.ng, all the eligible students are expected to write a national qualifying examination at designated centers closest to them.

The Mathematics Competition[7] is open to students from 10 – 18 years of age who attend full-time Secondary Education in both Public and Private Schools in Nigeria. Entry into this competition is free.

Each school is required to present their best ten students in mathematics (five from JSS3 and five from SSS2), irrespective of gender, religion, tribe or state of origin, to enhance their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.

To encourage the education of girls, mixed schools are asked to nominate a minimum of two girls for each category to represent their school.

Yearly enrollment history
Year Manual Online Total
2019 0 56,073 56,073
2018 0 41,730 41,730
2017 18,922 32,096 51,018
2016 26,051 19,604 45,655
2015 33,269 0 33,269

TV series

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From the large number of students that write the examinations annually, the best 108 will converge in Lagos along with their teachers for the ultimate prize of the Best Mathematics student of the year.

Selection Process of the 108 Students for The TV Quiz:

  • 17 National Winners + 37 State winners = 54 Students per category

17 National Winners – these students are the top 17 students who have scored the highest marks in the examinations, irrespective of their state of origin.

37 State Winners[8] – these students are selected as state representatives, having scored the highest marks in their states.

The TV series is in three stages:

  • Preliminaries – 9 episodes
  • Semi Finals[9][10] – 3 episodes
  • Final – 1 episode

After the first season, other episodes were created to add value to the project, such as the Cowbellpedia Teachers’ edition,[11] the documentary insert of the profile of the finalists etc.

Thousands of questions generated by NECO are loaded into the software per season and spread across different categories and syllabus.

The Cowbellpedia series is packaged as 55 Mins to 1hr X 16 episodes, transmitted across Africa on Africa Magic on DSTV, AIT Network and six major stations across key cities, and available globally on YouTube and Facebook.

Winners

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Year[12][13][14][15][16] Name Category Position School
2023[17] Adoga Agbo Daniel Junior 1st Graceland International School Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Daramola Demilade 2nd The Ambassadors college, Ota, Ogun State
Azuike Kenechukwu 3rd St. Gregory's College
Taiwo Tolulope Joy 4th The Ambassadors college, Ota, Ogun State
Okechukwu Joseph Senior 1st Graceland International School Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Duruji Chimdubem 2nd The Ambassadors college, Ota, Ogun State
Ofojindu Pascal 3rd Marist Brothers Juniorate, Abia
Edet Clement Eti-Abasi 4th Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja
2019 Michael Enehizena Junior 1st Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ogun State
Abdulquayum Alli 2nd Ota Total Academy, Ogun State
David Charles-Daniel 3rd Graceland international School Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Oghenero Ologe Senior 1st Zionsfield Private school, Ikorodu, Lagos State
Dabira Akinyemi 2nd The Ambassadors college, Ota, Ogun State
Hezekiah Olabisi 3rd Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State
2018[18][19][20] Akinfoluhan Akinleye[21] Junior 1st The Ambassadors College, Ota
Nwankwo Chinemerem Splendour 2nd Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Okarike Favour 3rd Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Mgbemena Chinedu[21] Senior 1st Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Isinkaye Praise 2nd Federal Government Academy Suleja, Niger State
Ekoko Juliet 3rd The Ambassadors College, Ota
2017 Jessey Uche-Nwichi Junior 1st Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Oluwafemi Adeyanju 2nd Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Ezekiel Ekanem 3rd Advanced Breed Group of Schools
Munachi Ernest-Eze[22][23] Senior 1st Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja
Oluwanifise Onafowokan 2nd The Ambassadors College, Ota
Evans Owamoyo 3rd Greater Tomorrow International College
2016 Ekoko Juliet Junior 1st The Ambassadors College, Ota
Daniel Oreofe 2nd The Ambassadors College, Ota
Okoli Glory 3rd The Ambassadors College, Ota
Oguntade Ayoola Senior 1st The Ambassadors College, Ota
Adeyemi Taiwo 2nd The Ambassadors College, Ota
Udoh Blessing 3rd The Ambassadors College, Ota
2015 Munachi Ernest-Eze[22][23] Junior 1st Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja
Ajoke Taiwo 2nd Scholars Universal Secondary School
Ayomide Fadipe 3rd Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja
Ayodeji Akinkuowo Senior 1st Adeyemi Demonstration Secondary School, Ondo State
Titilayo Fasoro-Adewale 2nd Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo State
Joshua Mokut 3rd Emilis Academy, Calabar

Touch points

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Cowbellpedia Radio

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Cowbellpedia Radio is a mathematics radio clinic created for secondary school students to aid their learning ability through teaching and solving math questions sent in by students/teachers via text and electronic platforms.[24]

It is a five-minute math class transmitted thrice weekly, round the year, across ten key radio stations[25] spread across Nigeria.

The program treats math topics and exercises with much opportunity for feedback and interaction.

Mobile app

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Beyond the few weeks of running the project, there came the need to have a constant touch where students can dial-up and improve their math skills, hence the commissioning of the CowbellPedia mobile app initiative.[26]

The Cowbellpedia mobile app[27] is created to encourage students to practice their mathematics skills on their mobile devices.

  • Categories: Junior/Senior
  • Stages: 13/season
  • Levels: 3
  • Platforms:
    • Web – www.play.cowbellpedia
    • Android - on Google Play[28]
    • iOS - available on App Store

Compendium

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An up-to-date compilation of all the past questions used on the show (2015–2017) with the correct answers and tutorials, compiled and published for free distribution to secondary school/students across Nigeria.[29]

Over 6,400 Q&A covering all the topics to be published in over three volumes as practice kit for students based on approved curriculum.

Volume 1 print run was 2,000 copies (Junior and Senior) used as incentive for schools during the registration for the Stage 1 Qualifying Examination.

Academy

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This is an initiative specifically created to drive support and interest in math and science among the Nigerian students. This is in collaboration with top-notch foreign universities who were on ground to workshop students and teachers across Nigeria.[30][31]

All these are geared towards nourishing the dreams of Nigerian children by providing a platform that recognizes and rewards excellence in mathematics, in addition to the quality nutrition that is provided by the Cowbell brand for the nourishment of the Nigerian populace, especially children.

The maiden edition of the initiative took place in three major cities: Lagos, Abuja, and Portharcourt in August 2018 and was facilitated by:

  • Professor Bernardo Recamán Santos, a professor of mathematics at The Colegio San Carlos, Columbia.
  • Professor Karam Aloui of the Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Tunisia.

Cowbellpedia Milk Of Kindness

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The Cowbellpedia Milk of Kindness is a special docufeature created as part of the activities to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the relationship between Cowbell and Math.

The docufeature highlighted the stories of:

  • Hamzat Dankanawa, a teacher with Nigerian Tulip International College, Abuja, who has consistently presented qualified students for the project.
  • Prince Otunnubi Samson, a teacher with the Federal Government Academy Suleja with over 25 years of experience.
  • Munachi Ernest-Eze, of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, a two-time Cowbellpedia champion (Junior and Senior categories).

Teachers edition

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The Teachers edition of the competition was conceived to mark the World Teachers' Day.[32] Teachers of the 12 finalists in the Junior and Senior categories of the competition partake in the final of the TV recording segment, and the winners are awarded cash and gifts.[11][33]

Winners of CBP Teachers edition[11]
Year Name Category School
2023 To be determined Senior To be determined
To be determined Junior To be determined
2018 Kehinde Oludare Senior BiboOluwa Academy, Osun State
Oluwaseun Makinde Junior Jesuit Memorial College, Rivers, Port Harcourt
2017 Kolawole Bello Senior The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State
Iyanuoluwa Osewa Junior The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State
2016 Isaac Oyegbile Senior Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo State
Daramola Joseph Oluwaseun Junior Dansol High School, Lagos

Notable winners

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Munachi Ernest-Eze of Loyola Jesuit College became the first contestant to win the competition in both categoriesn: as a junior student in 2015 and as a senior student in 2017. For this feat, he won a full scholarship to study aerospace engineering at the University of Toronto in Canada and also received education support funds from Promasidor Nigeria.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "COWBELLPEDIA : Search for best student begins as 2017 Maths quiz opens – Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2017-01-19. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  2. ^ "Our impact on students' Mathematics for 20 years — Cowbellpedia – Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  3. ^ "Cowbellpedia". www.cowbell.ng. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  4. ^ Hotnigerianjobs. "Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition 2016". Hot Nigerian Jobs.
  5. ^ "Qualifying exam for 2018 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competition holds February 17". 8 February 2018.
  6. ^ Ojumu, Busola (2016-06-02). "2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Quiz Results are Out!!!". Passnownow.com. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  7. ^ "2019 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Competition (Over 5M Naira in Cash Prizes) • MySchoolGist". MySchoolGist. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  8. ^ ""TWO RIVERS" REACH SEMI-FINALS IN 2017 COWBELLPEDIA MATHS QUIZ SHOW". Ameh News. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  9. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (2016-09-29). "36 students qualify for Cowbellpedia TV quiz semi final". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  10. ^ "Former junior champion lands in 2018 Cowbellpedia semifinals". The Eagle Online. 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  11. ^ a b c InvestAdvocate (2017-10-10). "Promasidor Marks World Teachers' Day with Cowbellpedia Teachers' Edition -". Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  12. ^ "Cowbellpedia Final – Meet the 12 amazing finalists". Lists.ng. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  13. ^ "Winners emerge in 2016 Cowbellpedia competition in thrilling final battle". The Eagle Online. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  14. ^ InvestAdvocate (2017-11-10). "The Untold Story of 2017 Cowbellpedia Finalists -". Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  15. ^ "Ex-champion returns as 2017 Cowbellpedia Maths TV Quiz finalist". The Eagle Online. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  16. ^ Warami, Urowayino (2018-11-22). "Maths: How football helped my calculating skills – Cowbellpedia winner". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  17. ^ "Cowbellpedia 2023 Competition - Episode 14 (Grand Finale)".
  18. ^ Abraham, Anthony Ada (2018-10-26). "How God's Favour Pushed Me Into 2018 Cowbellpedia Final – Contestant". Leadership Newspaper. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  19. ^ "The 2018 Cowbellpedia Champions of Mathematics". www.pulse.ng. 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  20. ^ "Ogun State Gets Three Slots in Cowbellpedia Finals". This Day Live. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  21. ^ a b "Mgbemena, Akinleye emerge winners of 2018 Cowbellpedia". Punch Newspapers. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  22. ^ a b "16-year-old genius makes history in Cowbellpedia mathematics competition". The Nation Nigeria. 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  23. ^ a b Warami, Urowayino (2017-11-15). "Cowbellpedia Math contest: Ernest-Eze emerges double winner". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  24. ^ "Cowbell Maths classes now on radio". The Nation Nigeria. 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  25. ^ Okuku, Mitchelle (2017-08-17). "Cowbellpedia secondary schools mathematics TV quiz show returns for 3rd season". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  26. ^ text, I. love telling stories using; pictures; details, videos It’s all about the little (2016-02-25). "The Cowbellpedia app may just be the help your kids need to ace Math exams". Techpoint.Africa. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  27. ^ Eribake, Akintayo (2016-02-23). "Cowbellpedia mobile app to reduce Maths phobia". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  28. ^ "Cowbellpedia - Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  29. ^ Info, Lagos Universities. "How to Get the Cowbellpedia Compendium Past Questions | FREE". Lagos Universities Info (LASU INFO) | Nigerian School and Exam News. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  30. ^ "CowbellPedia Academy 2018 Shortlisted Top 500 Students Archives". Talent Show Site. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  31. ^ "TEACHERS APPLAUD PROMASIDOR OVER COWBELLPEDIA ACADEMY". Brand Spur. 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  32. ^ "Teachers' Day 2019 - Everything Teachers Day | TeachersDay.com". www.teachersday.com. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  33. ^ "Firm celebrates teachers with special cowbellpedia mathematics quiz show". guardian.ng. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-12.