A form four student from Amagoro, Teso North subcounty, who studies at Maseno School, Joseph Okisai, has bagged an iPad worth Sh200,000 and Sh10,000 in cash after winning a mathematics contest.
The one-day contest was organized by a community library, bringing together 115 contestants, mostly students in high schools, who hail from Amagoro.
The community library is owned by a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Kiwimbi Kenya.
The NGO through this programme champions numeracy and literacy skills in Mathematics and English among community members by running a library that operates daily from 6am to 6pm including weekends and public holidays.
This is the first time for the NGO to organize a math contest, which will now be an annual test for students from the community.
The contest had levels up to the sixth. Level one involved basic mathematics, with level 6 being the most advanced.
Those who scored less than 50 per cent from each level up to level 4 were eliminated.
Only 17 contestants managed to proceed to the final level 6 after getting a pass score of 60 percent and above in the level five test.
Of the 17 contestants in level 6, which involved advanced concepts, 10 were finalists, with Okisai topping with 66 percent after scoring 33 against 54.
Position two in the contest scored 27 out of 54 in the determinant final test and was awarded a tablet and an extra Sh5,000, while the third winner was awarded a smartphone and an additional Sh4,000.
The other finalists from position six to position 10 were also rewarded with cash prizes each and certificates.
According to Prof. Olubayi Olubayi, the founder of Kiwimbi Kenya, the contest enables students to test their knowledge in mathematics, aimed at preparing them to tackle complex concepts and succeed in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) pathway and careers.
At the end of the 10-hour mathematics competition, the top 5 students were invited to an exclusive dinner at the home of the Teso North MP Dr .Oku Kaunya
Prof. Olubayi said the aim of the mathematics contest is to identify mathematical geniuses from across Kenya and develop them into world class talent in STEM.
“The contest was open to students from across Kenya. They will be responsible for industrializing Africa,” he added.
Prof. Olubayi urged the community in Amagoro to utilize the library to improve their knowledge and understanding.
Okisai, who topped in the contest, says he has utilized the library since primary school level, where he had been able to read over 990 books, even as he sets a target to read at least 4,000 books.
Apart from the community library, the Kiwimbi organization operates a well-equipped computer lab with 50 computers and a vocational training center, where it trains women in tailoring under the Kiwimbi women’s sustainable sewing project.
Kiwimbi also runs a carpentry section that trains carpenters and also operates a functional museum based on the Teso culture.
At the same time, the NGO introduced an agro-nutrition programme this year to empower women by giving them free seeds and agricultural tools.
In addition, Kiwimbi runs a food for thought feeding programme targeting candidates in Amagoro, Kidek and Ekaplong primary schools.
Therefore, the organization is actively mentoring students from the community in both academics and leadership.
By Moses Wekesa
