10 year-old Ifunanya Nwanegbo, a pupil of Mabel Divine International School, Nnewi, Anambra State, has become the best young mathematician in Nigeria by winning a prestigious national mathematics competition, organized by the Nigerian Tulip Inter national College, Abuja.
Defeating no fewer than 200,000 pupils from schools across the federation, she is the winner of the 18th national mathematics competition with a total score of 98.132%. Miss Ifunanya received N400,000 for winning the first prize and a full scholarship, while her school received a photocopier machine.
Young Ifunanya stated in a viral video that she only encountered minor difficulties in solving a few questions, displaying her rare confidence. She was only 1.8% away from what would have been a perfect 100% score for Anambra’s Nigeria’s young mathematics champion.
The State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha, said that she expected nothing less from Anambra pupils participating in any national and international educational competition, noting that the young pupil’s brilliance and confidence reflected the standard and quality of education in Anambra State and the values which the State government under Gov Willie Obiano has imbibed in the children.
Ifunanya’s coach and teacher, Mr Emmanuel Egwuchukwu, was also lauded for his dedication and commitment. Ifunanya’s mother, Mrs Nwanegbo, also expressed gratitude to God for giving her daughter the knowledge and confidence to compete most effectively in the competition which described as one “for true champions”.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment in the state, Mr C Don Adinuba, congratulated the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano on numerous awards which the state has won in Nigeria and abroad as a result of his administration’s policies and huge investments in education.
“There are many other examples we can cite about Anambra’s excellence in education like Grundtvig International School winning the Private School of the Year award from the Nigeria Union of Teachers in 2020, but time wouldn’t permit. Ifunanya, our emerging Chike Obi, has made us proud. She and pupils like her will continue to perform brilliantly under the excellent policies of the Willie Obiano-led administration in Anambra State, even as the administration nears its end.”
