By Jumoke Olaitan
The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) says 2,220 female students in public junior secondary schools from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are participating in the 2026 SDGs Girls Mathematics competition.
This is contained in a statement by the centre’s Controller, Information and Public Relations, Mr Onyekachi Njoku, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Njoku said the participants were selected from Junior Secondary School II (JS2).
He said that Mathematics was not only a school subject but also a tool for scientific reasoning, technological advancement, innovation, economic development and effective decision-making.
“The competition is meant to promote mathematical knowledge, excellence and equal educational opportunities for Nigerian children, especially the girl child,” Njoku said.
He said a country seeking sustainable development must invest in Mathematics education and encourage young people to develop confidence and competence in the subject.
Njoku said the focus on girls was important because of the SDGs, particularly Goal four on quality education and Goal five on gender equality.
According to him, it also emphasised inclusive and equitable education and opportunities for girls to participate fully in development.
He said the NMC was seeking to identify, encourage and nurture young female talents in Mathematics while helping girls understand that the subject was not reserved for a particular gender.
“Girls can excel in Mathematics, Science, Technology, Engineering and other Mathematics-related fields,” he said.
Njoku explained that the competition was not only about winning prizes but also about building confidence, discovering talents and developing problem-solving skills.
The controller said the programme would help prepare the next generation of female mathematicians, scientists, engineers, educators and innovators.
He said the programme also reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to talent identification among girls through funding support.
Njoku commended state governments for their cooperation in selecting participants and expressed confidence that the NMC/SDGs Girls Mathematics competition would continue to contribute to Mathematics education and the empowerment of the Nigerian girl child. (NAN)
Edited by Joseph Edeh
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