How time flies? It’s been two years since the annual mathematics quiz held in Nightingale Academy. Ayo was now in JSS 3 while Bayo had already graduated from the secondary school, having passed his S.S.C.E in flying colours.
Both Ayo and Bayo now lived in the same apartment under the roof of Mr. Badmus, though in separate rooms. She had been his stepsister for more than a year now, ever since Mr. Badmus proposed marriage to Esther, Mrs. Cole, of which she gladly accepted. After all, it is all she ever wanted. She is in love with him and ready to be with him for the rest of her life. Six months after he proposed, they got married and ever since they have lived together, tightening the bond between Bayo and Ayo. Mrs. Cole had now become Mrs. Badmus and she liked it.
The school had just resumed back for the second term in the 2017/2018 academic session, in January. It was yet to decide which six students would represent them in the coming season of Mathematics Olymp
At exactly 7:53 on a Saturday morning, 9 students and 2 teachers arrived at the Ultimate Examination Centre (TUEC). TUEC is the venue for the Mathematics Olympiad qualification examination. The students and teachers that arrived just now are none other than from Nightingale Academy.TUEC is an examination hall owned by the state government. It has 2 large halls where students write examinations and each hall can accommodate up to 2000 students at once. It was constructed for the sole purpose of the Mathematics Olympiad. One hall for the junior students while the other for the senior students.For the competition to run smoothly, the state was divided into 4 educational zones and more than a hundred schools are under each zone. Each school from each zone is allowed to select six students from their school, three JSS 3 students and three SSS 2 students, to write the qualification examination in the junior and senior category respectively. Every year since the beginning o
The following Monday morning, in Nightingale Academy, was a very exciting one. The students had just finished the daily devotion, led by the chapel prefect, when the principal walked in on them. He wore the brightest smile no one had ever seen on him. With his walking cane, he made his way to the podium and ushered the chapel prefect back to the line. He cleared his throat, while he showed out a document, he had held behind him, with his free hand.“Boys and girls!” He smiled again. His lips parted, yet no words came. It took another minute before he gained his composure. “I have good news!”This brought ecstasy to the students. They all yearned to know what the principal had for them.“This morning, I received an email,” the principal continued. “It was from the Olympiad. It contains the result of our student in the qualification exam written on Saturday.”“Quiet!” the vice princip
It’s already towards the end of July, 2018. Students and teachers of secondary schools within Heart city anticipate the beginning of the Mathematics Olympiad TV Quiz show which will begin on the 4th of August, 2018.In Nightingale Academy, the students had just finished their third term examination for the 2017/2018 session. The JSS 3 students however, didn’t take part in the examination as they have written the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), a few weeks before. Since they wrote the BECE, Ayo along with Funmi and Oreoluwa had ample time to study well for the competition. They believe they were more prepared than ever.Meanwhile, the duo of Perfect and Emmanuel also looked forward to the competition. They had just finished their examination a day before and had begun preparing for the Mathematics Olympiad. Although they have been preparing before now, they believed it wasn’t enough. Their mathematics teacher was also readily available
“Welcome to another exciting season of Olympiad, your favourite mathematics TV quiz show for secondary schools within Heart city, a city for all,” the quiz master anchoring the competition said, all at once with smiles on his face.The quiz master is live on stage in Ace TV studios with 6 contestants in front of him and an audience behind them, who sat in three rows and ten columns. The seats, on which the audience sat, were arranged in a stadia-like manner. Each row has a minimum of 40 seat space. The six participating contestants for that day were standing in front of a pulpit each, with a digital in-built screen on the surface. The in-built screen is a digitalized device in which the contestants would use in providing answers to the questions asked. The quiz master is also standing in front of a pulpit similar to that of the contestants. The only difference is that he uses his to read out questions and monitor points of the contestants. The 6 pulpits of the con
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the quiz master began to say, after the applause had subsided. “There we have our six contestants in the junior category. They are about to go through two rounds.” He paused to observe both the contestants and the audience. The joy on their faces gave him the reassurance he needed. This competition still holds value and he was glad to be its anchor.“The first round is 12 objective questions where they each have 5 seconds to input their answer on the digital screen in front of them. At the end of round 1, the top 3 contestants with the highest score move on to round 2” – he chuckled – “which is the Olympiad 60 seconds of fame.“In round 2, each contestant will be given 60 seconds to provide answers to questions as much as possible. At the end of round 1 and 2, the two contestants with the highest combined score in both rounds, move to the semifinals.”The quiz master sighed
“Oops!” Funmi sighed.” I would have skinned her alive if she had answered that first question wrong.”Funmi was seated among her school mates at the left flank of the audience seats. They had taken position at a vantage point where they could have a good view of their very own, Ayomide Cole. Funmi was however not happy with Ayomide for entering a tiebreak with a student that scored below her in the qualifying examination.“Funmi, you are talking now,” Perfect said. She was also one of the students, from her school, that have been given the grace to witness the competition first-hand. “Can you even answer that question?”“I…” She wanted to say but her voice trailed off as she heard what Perfect said next.“At least she scored above you in the qualifying exams!”“Third tie break question!” Al-ameen, a JSS 3 student said and held his hand on his head. He w
“I now know why she’s smiling and using her fingers to stroke her cheeks,” Adura said out of the blues. Ever since she saw Ayo smile, she had been wondering what would make her do so. And just now, it became dawn on her.“Why?” Perfect asked. She had been as inquisitive as Adura was. She didn’t just give it much thought.“She’s actually crying and using her fingers to wipe the tears.”“You don’t mean it!”“She’s right!” Al-ameen supported the claim, not looking at the person he was talking to.Perfect shook her head. “I don’t blame her.”“Oh! No!” Emmanuel brought his palm to his face fully. “0.96 seconds?”“That was really fast,” Funmi said, giving her opinion, without being asked for one.“Yes,” Oreoluwa agreed with Adura. “I can now see her tears. She&rs
“I feel for her,” Emmanuel said sadly. Bode, one of the participants, had just ended his round in the 60 seconds of fame.“Me too,” Perfect agreed beside him. She too was as sad as Emmanuel and it seems like everyone of them shared the same emotion that very moment. They are all eager to know what the final points hold, hoping it doesn’t lead to another tiebreak.“What do you think, Perfect?” Emmanuel asked, not looking away from Ayo.“I believe she will score higher than that boy.” She pointed towards Bode, who wore a comfortable smile on his face as the quizmaster queried him.“I want to believe so too,” Emmanuel said, now staring at Perfect in the eyes. “But could she score more than Anu?”Perfect sighed and buried her face in her palms. She looked back at Emmanuel with inquisitive eyes. “Are you implying the boy and Ayo are likely to have a tiebreak?”“Something like that,” Emmanuel said. “Or Anu and the boy are on the same point, with A