Abuja: Stella Edechukwu, a student of Applied Mathematics at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has urged parents and teachers to encourage students to overcome their fear of mathematics for greater academic achievement. Edechukwu, an African Union (AU) Mathematics Ambassador, made this call while presenting certificates of excellence to students of Samuelson International School, Lugbe, Abuja, for their outstanding performance in mathematics.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Edechukwu shared that her decision to study mathematics at the university stemmed from her interest in helping children and adults overcome maths phobia. She has written a book using poems to make mathematics more relatable to children, aiming to reduce their fear of the subject by associating it with everyday experiences. Edechukwu is actively working with the Maths Ambassador, STEAM, and the African Mathematics Project under the African Union to promote this initiative, which includes publishing a mathematics dictionary for primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.
The school’s proprietress, Mrs. Angela Ukwu, expressed pride in Samuelson International School being recognized by the African Mathematics Project as one of the fastest-growing schools in Abuja. She attributed the school’s successes to the support of her husband and the dedication of the staff. She encouraged students who did not receive awards this time to continue working hard for future opportunities and announced that the school qualified for the upcoming African Mathematics Project Competition.
Some award recipients expressed gratitude to the Africa Mathematics Project for the recognition. Miss Benita Beshel, a Primary 1 pupil, promised to continue working hard in maths and other subjects. Miss Mitchell Aneke, a Primary 5 pupil aspiring to be a doctor, thanked the organisers for the encouragement. Bethel Chukwu and Samuel Ukwu also expressed their appreciation and looked forward to future competitions.