By Phillip Pasula
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-Martin Master of Lunzu Secondary School is the champion of the 2024 Old Mutual Mathematics Olympiad.
This was revealed on Saturday at Mzuzu University at a colourful prize presentation ceremony where the best schools, teachers, and students that took part in the Olympiad were handsomely awarded.
Old Mutual Mathematics Olympiad is a competition for secondary school students throughout the country organized by Mzuzu University and sponsored by Old Mutual.
The young brains are challenged to solve mathematical problems starting from their respective clusters. Failures get eliminated as others move on up to the semifinals and finals.
Faith Ng’ambi of Likuni Girls Secondary School was named the best-performing female student. Dedza Secondary School emerged as the best-performing school and will get Mathematics teaching and learning materials worth K300,000.00 from Maneno Bookshop.
In second position was Marist Secondary School which will get materials worth K250,000.00 while Chaminade Marianist Secondary School will get Mathematics teaching and learning materials worth K200,000.00 for finishing third.
In the Community Day Secondary School category, Mpando CDSS from Lilongwe came out tops with Chimphalika CDSS from Dedza as runners-up. Both schools will get materials from Maneno Bookshop worth K180,000.00.
The champion, Martin Master, went away with a certificate, a trophy, and K300,000.00 cash. Khama Jonathan of Marist Secondary School was given a certificate and K250,000.00 for the second position while Wanangwa Luhana of Chaminade Marianist Secondary School who finished third got a certificate and K200,000.00.
Speaking to journalists at the event, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Mzuzu University, Professor Wapulumuka Mulwafu, said it was encouraging to note that some students who have been taking part in the Olympiad end up doing very well and get selected to universities.
“This part of the core business of the university is to build human capital for the nation and so we are encouraging our students to take Mathematics seriously.
Once they do that, they will be able to perform very well in other subjects as well. We believe that with this initiative, girls will be able to do better because they will see that it is possible after seeing their friends that have done well,” added Professor Mulwafu.
Old Mutual Life Assurance Head of Technical and Strategy, Tatenda Chibgwe, said his company was impressed with how Mzuzu University was administering the competition.
“We will continue as long as we can to sponsor the competition and we will support our partner in all the initiatives that will be put in place to even encourage girls to do more Mathematics,” remarked Chibgwe.
Speaking to journalists, the 15-year-old best female performer in the competition who aspires to be an economist, Faith Ng’ambi, said practice and self-belief were her secrets.
“I’m now getting the feeling that I can do other things beyond this because I’m so inspired now. My secret was believing in myself and practicing hard,” she said.
The champion, Martin Master, told journalists he started practicing Mathematics at an early age.
“It’s all about attitude. If you have an attitude that Mathematics is simple and enjoy practising it, it’s doable,” explained Master.
Martin Master would like to study medicine at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS).
