By Obinna Uballa
Students from Imo State and Enugu State delivered standout performances at the grand finale of the South East Maths Olympiad on Saturday, emerging among the top winners in a competition that attracted more than 11,500 participants across the region.
The contest brought together finalists from Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo State, Abia State, and Ebonyi State, following weeks of elimination rounds designed to identify the best young mathematics talents.
In the primary category, Egejurum Onyedikachi of Diamond Special College Owerri emerged the overall winner after scoring 13 points out of a possible 15.
He edged out Onah Tobit, who represented Anambra State, by a single point, while contestants from Enugu State shared the second position in the closely contested round.
The junior category was dominated by students from Evergreen Schools Enugu, with Onwubiko Chimdiebube delivering a perfect score to secure first place.
Chimdiebube received a cash prize of N3 million, while his teacher was awarded N1 million in recognition of the achievement. Evergreen Schools further cemented their dominance as their students clinched the first, second and third positions under the mentorship of mathematics teacher Chisom Unachukwu.
In the senior category, Don-Anele Marvelous Munachimso, also from Diamond Special College Owerri, emerged champion.
Munachimso won the star prize of N5 million, while his teacher received an additional N1 million award. The student recently secured a $100,000 scholarship in Canada, further highlighting his academic achievements.
The competition was organised by education advocate Alex Onyia, who said the initiative aims to identify and nurture young mathematical talents in the South-East.
According to Onyia, strengthening mathematics education is essential to preparing Africa’s future workforce for a technology-driven global economy.
The olympiad began with more than 11,500 students participating in preliminary rounds before the finalists advanced to the grand finale to determine the region’s top performers.
But observers noted that no public school featured among the top winners, a development that has sparked concerns among education stakeholders about inequalities in access to quality learning resources.
Despite the concern, organisers described the competition as a major platform for inspiring excellence in mathematics and encouraging young innovators across the South-East.
“With over 11,500 students participating and the best emerging at the end, the future of mathematics and innovation in the South-East looks promising,” Onyia said.
