Over 20 Schools Contest to Emerge Winner at the 5th UCMAS National Competition 2024 in Lagos
…as schools with top scorers win trophies, and medals.
By Onome Naomi
The 5th Edition of the UCMAS National Competition in 2024 kicked off on Saturday, November 23rd at the Nurudeen Alao Hall in UNILAG as primary and secondary school students from various schools in Lagos, Ogun, and Ibadan competed to emerge winners in the virtual and listening calculations.
UCMAS, since its inception in Nigeria in 2015, has helped children’s brain development and has centers in 6 states of Nigeria. The 2024 Competition registered over 300 pupils and students from ages 5 and above to participate using the UC tools to solve mathematical equations as the top scorers from the various categories go home with trophies and medals.
Schools in participation include: Mill House School (Lagos State), City Pride School (Lagos State), Gemseed Academy (Lagos), Paks Model School, First Quiver School, Mayor’s School, Gopherwood School, Gemcare School, Cedars World, All Joy School, Louisville School, Joyville School, Bodija Center L, and Rich Gate School, Trinity School, Yolad Montessori, Bloomseed School, Blooming Greens School, Yaba Center, St. Leo Center Corona School, Gbagada, others…
More also, UCMAS activities during the 5th Edition of the 2024 Competition was chaperoned by Mr John who as he engaged participating students with the ‘virtual and listening’ calculation, where students are given the UC tools and writing materials to solve basic mathematical equations from questions according to their categories. To spur the participating students to put in their best effort, Toreeba Ahmed, the overall champion for UCMAS during its maiden edition who attended the event, attested to how UCMAS has helped her through her primary and secondary school.
UCMAS originated from Asia, has its African headquarters in Ghana, and can be found in over 8 countries in Africa and 89 countries worldwide, as revealed by the country director, Mr. Steven Ofori. He also stated that the UCMAS program has a reasonable number of sign-ups from Nigeria and in the 2024 competition.
Steve Ofori told Naomisophyblog during an interview that the main objective of UCMAS in Nigeria is to enable students to participate and elevate their academic performance. He says due to the downtime experienced by Nigerians, the turnout of participating students accompanied by their parents and observers for the 2024 competition is lesser than previous years. However, the brain development program has continuity and is helping children from 5 years to stimulate and challenge the brain to build capacity.
Steve further stated that the two vital steps of stimulation and challenge of a child’s brain capacity are created using numbers. These methods by UCMAS teach the children about concentration, memorizing skills, reading skills, speed, and accuracy skills, as seen during the competition where a 5 to 6-year-old child solves close to 50 questions in a few seconds; this involves a certain amount of training to get to that specific speed level.
The UCMAS country director also enlightened the public on developing a child’s cognitive ability rather than depend on technology (the use of AI); the AI might serve as a supporting tool but should not replace a child’s intelligence. It is paramount to instill confidence in a child in the assertion that losing today means he/she has to work harder to win another day, he said.
Steve also mentioned that UCMAS is actively operating in 6 states and has area managers and coordinators while working to extend its network all over 36 states of the federation in the near future. Meanwhile, the essence of the UCMAS training is to equip the Nigerian child to solve Nigeria’s problem tomorrow. The learning areas focus on mathematics and science. Urges the federal government to support the UCMAS initiative in Nigeria to enable public schools to benefit.
Naomisophyblog learned the UCMAS has ‘physical and online classes’ as well as an application on Google Play store. Students can also connect to the online class on ucmas.com or join UCMAS Nigeria on diverse social media platforms to keep updated with activities and connect with the board.
At the end of the competition, winners from the various categories emerged and are awarded with trophies and medals based on their performance in the listening calculation round. Category A Champion is Yoloye Morire from All Joy School, Oyo State, and the 1st placing is Abiodun Alo Damilola from Maryhill Convent School; Category B Champion is Bishi Laylah from Corona School, Gbagada Center, Lagos, and the 1st placing is Teran Lawrence from Louisville School in Oyo State; Category C Champion is Zibah Umar from Gopherwood School; and the 1st placing is Bernard Deborah from Gopherwood School; Category D winner is Olanna Nwaokoro from Gopherwood Lagos and the 1st placing is Musa Dabira from Gemseed Academy Lagos; Category E Winner is Oluwalanke Enoch from Gopherwood School, while the 1st placing is Osaite Daniel from Bodija Center, Oyo State.
Speaking with some school representatives who attended the UCMAS competition, Mrs. Mary Ohagwuasi, the CEO of Gemseed Children Academy in Gbagada, affirmed the positive impact the UCMAS program has created and how she keyed into their mission to help her wards since its launch into the Nigerian space. She said the UCMAS tools and mathematical impartation have helped children who have problems with numbers due to lack of concentration and improved their brain capacity. She added that UCMAS is a concept that helps with concentration and coordination; attested she’s seen children transit from secondary school to the university via the UCMAS concept using the UCMAS structure, which is commendable. In appraisal, Mrs. Mary noted that the UCMAS tool is very useful, especially to the young ones. She says it’s a good start for children from creche to enhance confidence and excellence as they grow in age educationally.
Mrs. Oloyele Okundayo, the school head teacher of Unity Foundation School Ogun State, emphasized that UCMAS helps the children’s cognitive thinking and builds their confidence, analytical skills, and mathematical skills. Also, UCMAS teaching and tasks help build the children’s self-esteem and smartness; she recommends that children from all over Nigeria should be a part of the UCMAS community and says it’s a globally accepted initiative.
Note to readers:
*UCMAS has its African headquarters in Ghana and was launched there in September 2007.
*UCMAS was launched in Nigeria in 2015.
* Its country director in Nigeria is Steve Okorie, while the technical head for UCMAS Nigeria is John Kwabu.
