2016 Cowbellpedia Records Increased Participation

The result of the 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics qualifying examination recently released by the National Examinations Council (NECO) has revealed that there are four perfect scores from three schools.
A total of 46,698 students, comprising 4,892 (junior category) and 22,443 (senior category) sat for the qualifying examination in 235 centres across the country on March 19, 2016.

This year’s enrolment is 40 per cent higher than last year’s figure with three states recording the highest enrolment growth. They are Kaduna, 214 per cent; Kebbi, 164 per cent; and Sokoto, 146 per cent.

From the 46,698, enrolment figure, 108 students (54 each from junior and senior categories) will proceed to the second stage, which is the television quiz show. The figure is made up of the top 20 for the two categories; and 34 best scores, based on one per state.

The second stage, which will be in quiz format, will be further sub-divided into preliminary, semifinals and finals stages. The show will be serialised into 13 episodes and will be aired on 14 television stations across the country.
The Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olivier Thiry, acknowledged NECO, state ministries of education, school principals, teachers, the press and other partner agencies for supporting the initiative over the years.

He explained that the company has significantly increased the prize money for the finals for both students and teachers. This year, he said overall student winner in each category will receive N1 million, in addition to other prizes, while the teacher will be awarded N400,000.

Apart from the cash prize, the overall winner will also get a medal, a trophy and an all-expenses paid vacation. The first and the second runners-up will receive N750,000 and N500,000 respectively. There will also be a plaque, mathematics textbooks and a desktop computer for the winners.

NECO is an examination body in Nigeria that conducts Junior and Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). This year’s Cowbellpedia Secondary Schools Mathematics TV Quiz Show is in partnership with the examination body to widen the reach to participants across the country.