Stella Edechukwu, a student of applied mathematics at the National Open University of Nigeria, has urged parents and teachers to encourage pupils and students to overcome their phobia of mathematics for greater excellence.

Ms Edechukwu, an African Union mathematics ambassador, made the call while presenting certificates of excellence to pupils and students of Samuelson International School, Lugbe, Abuja.

The certificates were presented to the students for their outstanding performance in mathematics.

Narrating her decision to study mathematics at the university, she said it stemmed from her interest in helping children and adults overcome math phobia.

“So in my quest to do that, I have written a book on maths using poems, as is done in the English sector, to bring it to the maths sector because I’ve come to understand that children learn from what they see. If a child can relate maths to everything happening around them, there will be no fear of the subject.

“This is the ABC of everything they do with maths. That is why I’m working with the maths ambassador, STEAM, and the African Mathematics Project under the African Union to push this initiative.

“It aims to bring up the minds of children so they can excel in maths, regardless of how difficult it may seem. In doing that, the group has published a mathematics dictionary for primary and secondary schools in Nigeria,” Ms Edechukwu said.

She said her other works include a collection of poems to make the subject more attractive and build children’s confidence to excel and participate in mathematics competitions.

The school’s proprietress, Angela Ukwu, said Samuelson International School was honoured by the African Mathematics Project as one of the fastest-growing schools in Abuja.

Ms Ukwu attributed the school’s successes to support from her husband and the dedication of staff members to their duties.

She congratulated awardees and encouraged students and pupils who were not selected this time not to be discouraged, but to work harder to participate in similar gestures and future competitions.

She added that following an assessment of its pupils and students, the school has qualified to participate in the upcoming African Mathematics Project Competition, describing it as another milestone.

Some recipients of the maths award who spoke to journalists thanked the Africa Mathematics Project for honouring them.

Benita Beshel, a primary one pupil at the school, promised to continue working hard in maths and other subjects to achieve a brighter future.

Mitchell Aneke, a primary 5 pupil, said she aspires to be a doctor in the future and thanked the organisers of the award for the encouragement.

Similarly, Bethel Chukwu and Samuel Ukwu both thanked the award organisers, adding that they looked forward to competing with other schools in the near future.

(NAN)