36 Students Win Big at 23rd Annual National Mathematics Competition
In a significant boost for educational excellence, thirty-six students have been awarded scholarships at the 23rd Annual National Mathematics Competition held in Abuja. The event, organized by Nigerian Tulip International Colleges in collaboration with the National Mathematics Centre, celebrated outstanding performance among mathematics enthusiasts from Primary 5 and 6, as well as JSS1 to JSS3.
Competition Details and Scholarship Awards
The competition unfolded in two rounds, with the first round taking place in Abuja and the second in Kano between March 29 and 31, 2026, catering to qualifiers from the South and North zones respectively. Fevzullah Bilgin, the Managing Director of NTIC, announced that the 36 awardees were selected from a highly competitive national pool of approximately 10,000 participants. He detailed that 83 students in the primary category and 16 in the junior category advanced to the second round.
Bilgin emphasized that the broader vision of the ANMC is to nurture future innovators who will contribute meaningfully to scientific advancement in Nigeria and across Africa. In alignment with this vision, NTIC has committed substantial resources, investing over N1 billion annually to support educational aspirations and human capital development. Currently, around 100 students benefit from the NTIC-ANMC fully funded scholarship scheme.
At the awards presentation on Tuesday, March 31, in Abuja, 19 students from the primary and junior categories received full scholarships, while 17 were awarded 100% tuition scholarships, covering their entire secondary education at various NTIC branches. Additionally, cash prizes and rewards were presented to students and teachers ranking in the top 10 positions, and the first three schools from both zones received desktop computers, printers, and tablets.
Transformative Impact of the Scholarships
Mr. Erdal, the ANMC Coordinator, highlighted that the competition aims to remove the phobia of mathematics from young minds, opening them to possibilities in sciences and related subjects. He explained that becoming a scholarship recipient offers more than financial support; it provides access to a transformative academic environment at NTIC schools. Students benefit from Olympiad training, advanced science programmes, and rigorous intellectual development initiatives that prepare them for national and international opportunities.
Erdal added that such exposure makes admission into leading global universities a realistic outcome, expressing pride in the outstanding students and confidence in their future success in mathematics and related fields.
Related Educational Initiatives
In a related development, Lagos schools that excelled at a national flag football contest received scholarship awards, cash prizes, and trophies at the 2024 Aketi Bowl II in Calabar, Cross River state. The awards ceremony, held at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, recognized discipline, teamwork, and competitive excellence among students, as announced by the Lagos state government on Facebook.
