By Peace Ikechukwu and Emmanuel Chigozie additional report by Deborah chinyelum
History was made at St Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo, Njikoka LGA, June 6, when the school organized her first ever Pope Leo X1V Mathematics Weekend.
Welcoming guests at the event, which had the theme, ”Love Math, Love Life”, the Principal, Reverend Father Dennis Uche Nwabueze, who recently clinched the Anambra Man of the Year Award, AMTY, 2025, as ”School Administrator of the Year”, giving an insight into the theme, said that Mathematics and life were not separate passions but intertwined expressions of human desire to understand, create, and flourish.
Explaining further, he described Mathematics as being far more than numbers on a page or formula to memorize. He called it the language through which the mysteries of the universe were decoded, noting that Mathematics taught lessons that extended far beyond the classroom.
He said that Mathematics taught persistence when problems seemed insurmountable; creativity when new approaches must be found, and humility when it was realized how much more there was to discover.
In his words, ‘Mathematics shows that every challenge has a solution waiting to be found; that patterns exist even in apparent chaos, and that precision and beauty can coexist.’
He recognized the efforts of the students during the preparations for the event and appreciated the parents for their continued support. The Principal encouraged everyone to embrace both parts of the theme, even as he expressed his belief in the capability of today’s child to change the world through Mathematics.
‘May your love for Mathematics deepen your love for life, and may your love for life inspire your Mathematical journey,’ Fr Nwabueze concluded.
The first speaker at the event, Prof. Eric Uwadiegwu Ofoedu, a Professor of Mathematics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Anambra State, described life, using Graphical Science in Mathematics, to point out that each curve that went up represented a maximum curve and that the maximum point was not stable.
Exhorting the students to love their teachers to be able to pass their examinations, he also said that all formula represented the challenges of life; that being able to solve them meant conquering those challenges.
He proceeded to give them some job opportunities available to them like working for the government, using himself as an example. In his parting remarks, he encouraged the youngsters to challenge AI, stressing that running away from Mathematics was like running away from life.
He promised to give the sum of one hundred thousand Naira to any student who scored 312 and above in the coming year, 2026.
Mrs Genevieve Ezeamama, also a lecturer of Mathematics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Founder, ”Mathematics World of Excellence” (a company providing educational and professional services to institutions, industries, and individuals), spoke on the relationship between Mathematics and life, stating that Mathematics was the bedrock of everyday life.
Calling Mathematics the language of the world, she told the students about the need for Mathematics in developing their logical reasoning, their creativity, and, by extension, their world. She emphasised that Mathematics was a life skill, regardless of whatever field, urging the students to see it as such, as opposed to being just a subject.
‘Mathematics helps in using the brain. Mathematics is a powerful tool for creating positive impact. Confidence in Mathematics brings curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Mathematics makes you look for solutions wherever you go,’ Ezeamama elaborated.
She corroborated the principal’s words about students being capable of bringing change to the world, charging them not to look down on themselves, as they could create things, even as students.
The university don gave the students tips for understanding Mathematics, emphasizing the need for collaboration among themselves and with their teachers.
Leading the students in some positive affirmations, she also advised the teachers to use visual aids in teaching, encourage critical thinking, make Mathematics relevant and fun, as well as not ignoring any student’s questions, no matter how bizarre they might sound.
Expressing her belief in the children, she charged them to build their confidence through making positive impacts.
Speaking to Fides, Mrs Ezeamama appreciated the organizers for putting the event together; and the students for their good conduct and readiness to learn.
‘I can see many of the students receiving my words which shows that they are being trained to receive good things, so I’m really impressed,’ she said, going on to implore the Management to sustain such programmes.
The Principal, Fr Nwabueze, described the event as a ‘Weekend carved out in our own school work plan for the term,’ pointing out that the school had a work plan for each term where events were added for the students. He said that this particular term, it was Mathematics Weekend, which, he noted, was a way of motivating the students to sit down and study.
The students were not left out. The Senior Prefect, Leo Raymond Nwaechi Nwandu, speaking for himself and the students, described the event as an eye opener, adding that it had cleared all his doubts about Mathematics, even as he wished that the event had taken place much earlier.
He appreciated the guest speakers for their presence, as well as their lectures.