Winners Emerge as UCMAS Engages Over 1000 Students at the 6th National Competition 2025

Winners Emerge as UCMAS Engages Over 1000 Students at the 6th National Competition 2025

…as UCMAS rewards students for outstanding performance.

By Naomi Onome

Over a thousand students participated in the UCMAS 6th National Competition on Saturday, November 22, 2025. A child development programme called UCMAS (Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System) employs mental math and the abacus to help kids ages 4 to 13 improve cognitive abilities like focus, memory, and problem-solving.

The competition, which has been held yearly since 2020 after the launching of UCMAS in Nigeria in October 2015, is an assessment for children of primary school education and registered with the UCMAS programme to perform calculations using an abacus and then to visualise the beads mentally to solve problems quickly and accurately, leading to increased confidence and overall brain development. The programme, which originated in Malaysia in 1993, is an abacus-based mental development system designed to help children improve their concentration, memory, and mathematical skills. It is practised in over 80 countries worldwide.

According to the country director of UCMAS, John Kwabu, the UCMAS competition, initiated in Nigeria in 2020, presents an annual opportunity for children participating in the UCMAS programme to showcase their achievements in various cognitive skills, primarily focused on enhancing their intelligence through activities that promote memory retention, listening skills, concentration, and multitasking. Moreover, he said the programme serves as a brain development initiative that not only aims to improve cognitive abilities but also enhances the economic proficiency of children.

However, John stated that significant progress has been made since the launch of UCMAS in Nigeria, with the program expanding from Lagos to include participation from eight states, which are Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Ekiti, and others. The goal is to further extend the programme’s reach into the eastern regions of Nigeria, allowing more children to engage in the competition and benefit from the programme’s offerings. Currently, over a thousand schools across these states are involved in the UCMAS programme, with ongoing plans to include more institutions that have yet to participate.

In reference to the history of UCMAS in the diaspora, John revealed that the programme began in Malaysia in 1993 and later extended to Ghana in 2007 and has become an international educational initiative, fostering cognitive development across different continents, with Nigeria being a vital part of its growth since its establishment in 2015.

Mrs Akingbade Nofisat, the proprietress of Great Standard Montessori Modern School, Abeokuta, of the States, during an interview with the press, said that the UCMAS concept has made a significant impact on the educational approach of a school that started four years ago. When the school expanded to include an elementary section, the need for a stimulating and engaging programme for children led to the adoption of the UCMAS concept, which focuses on enhancing mental alertness. The positive results from this programme, she said, have been evident, as many students have excelled in cognitive development since its introduction into the school curriculum.

Nofisat noted that her school is participating in the competition for the first time and affirmed she’s optimistic and confident in the training programme coordinated by UCMAS in Nigeria for children of diverse institutions. She expressed gratitude towards the organisers of the event for their commendable work in supporting Nigerian children’s mental development. Urge the organisers to continue their efforts, recognising the transformative effects the programme has had on improving children’s mental reading abilities.

To participating students, the advice is to perceive the competition as an opportunity for personal growth rather than a mere contest. Nofisat emphasises the importance of learning from peers in other schools and urges students to remain committed to their skills, reinforcing the idea that everyone has the potential to be a champion. The message is clear: students should persist in their efforts and strive for improvement, making the most of their experiences with the UC Mass programme to achieve future successes, she said.

Stephanie Osugo, a parent from Bloomfield Elementary School, expresses her support for the UC Maths programme, which she believes significantly enhances children’s mathematical abilities. Having had her son participate since the program’s inception, she notes that it allows children to perform mental calculations rapidly, making them unafraid of numbers. Osugo highlights that the programme’s success spans beyond primary education and urges the government to ensure equal opportunities for children in public schools to participate in such competitions, stressing the importance of relevant subjects in the curriculum. She criticises the current educational system for not embracing innovative methods and emphasises that skills learnt through UCMAS are essential for understanding concepts in technology and everyday life.

Mary Oluwaboye, the Ogun State Area Coordinator/Manager for UCMAS in Nigeria, explains that public schools are currently not involved in the UC Maths programme because the Nigerian government has not adopted it, with only private schools participating. She advocates for government adoption of the programme, emphasising its benefits for brain development and maximising children’s potential. She stated that, since UC Maths began in Nigeria nearly a decade ago, it has trained many children, including those who previously struggled academically, leading to significant improvements in their performance. Oluwaboye urges the government to consider incorporating UC Maths into the school curriculum, noting that other West African countries have successfully done so and benefited from it.

Oluwaboye reiterates that the average human brain has the potential capacity equivalent to 1,000 to 10,000 to store information, yet individuals typically utilise only 2 to 3% of it during their lifetime. Exposure to programmes like UC Maths, which has trained around five million children globally and for about ten years in Nigeria, can help children maximise their potential. Success stories Oluwaboye recounted include previously slow learners who excel academically after participating in the programme, with improved focus, speed, accuracy, and overall proficiency in subjects, leading to achievements such as studying medicine.

The highlights of this year’s event included the puzzle game where students find the given words in the puzzle, listening calculations where winners from diverse schools emerged, question and answer segments built around current affairs and other exciting events.

Participating schools include Millhouse School (Lagos State), City Pride School (Lagos State), Gemseed Academy (Lagos), Pak’s Model School, Jewels and Pearls, Mayor’s School, Gopherwood School, Gemcare School, Royal Hall, All Joy School, Louisville School, Joyville School, Bodija Centre, Rich Gate School, GSM School, Yolad Montessori, Bloomseed School, Juniper Hill School, Yaba Centre, St Leo Centre, Corona School Gbagada, and others…

Winners emerge from various schools from the puzzle game, abacus and mental math calculations. Current affairs questions which focus on general knowledge also had winners from participating schools.