Nigeria’s young geniuses shine at 2026 Verboheit Mathematics Award Competition 

Nigeria’s brightest young mathematics talents took centre stage at the 2026 Verboheit Mathematics Award Competition as students from across the country, who showcased exceptional problem-solving skills, creativity and academic excellence during the league modelled contest were rewarded.

Tosin Ojo, the convener/founder at Verboheit Mathematics League Competition’s award ceremony presented the awards to the best 20 out of the over 300 students that applied.

In the award ceremony held in Lagos on Saturday, May 23, Chimkwesiri Anyinam from Penny International College emerged as the overall winner, and was rewarded with a prize money of N250,000.

Ukeme-Obong Danison from Kina High School, Port Harcourt emerged as the first runner-up, and got N150,000, while Kuranga Muhammad from Vetland Senior Grammar School, who emerged as the second runner-up got the sum of N100,000.

Abdllah Adeyemo from Greater Tomorrow International Day College emerged as the first winner of the newly introduced Dipo Olomofe Award, and received the sum of N100,000.

Speaking about the competition, the convener explained that she started the competition in 2024, inspired by her background.

“I looked at my journey, my career journey, and I sort of looked at what were the core skills that were most instrumental to what I’ve been able to do, and I found out that there were just two skills, basically mathematics and literacy.

“I realised I had a good maths teacher who played a key role in laying strong foundational skills for numbers,” she said.

In addition, she said, “The reason we started this competition is to put back the idea that numbers are very critical. The goal is not just about the money prize but inculcating critical skills such as perseverance, hard work, resilience, and grit in students.

“This is a different type of competition, it’s about how you finish, and not how you started. There are some students that may barely make it to the screening stage, but when they continue every week for six weeks, they would have learned something great; the idea is to develop students.

If it is a one-off competition, the superstars will be the ones that will make it up the ranks, but as a process, every single child that persevered, would have gained something.

“The biggest thing in this competition may not be the money prize, but looking back, and realising you have gained a lot from the competitive.”

Tosin Ojo’s experience as a successful investment professional has shown that the foundational skills in mathematics, developed at the secondary school level is very critical to success in many areas of life in one’s later years, especially in business, entrepreneurship and finance.

She further explained that through Verboheit Mathematics competition, she aims to reignite the desire for hard-work, perseverance and thoroughness, values she said have been significantly eroded in recent years, especially in the young minds of school students.

Tolulope Elubode, representing Grovane Advisory Partners, one of the sponsors of the competition, highlighted the crucial roles mathematics plays in a person’s life.

“Mathematics generally is something that we need even in life.

“Everything is a number, and that’s the reason mathematics is an important course in school; it’s something you need to apply to your daily life,” he said.

Omolade Marquis, senior growth marketer at Cowrywise, reiterated the imperativeness of mathematics skills, when she said, “Maths is one of the core things in life, hence, you have to focus in it.”

Paul Idowu, one of the volunteers, earlier in his address disclosed that the competition aims to reward mathematical and analytical prowess of students.

Idowu further revealed that in 2024, the competition received 150 entries from 25 schools, 215 entries in 2025 from 42 schools, and over 350 applications in 2026.

Toba Oyebanji, principal partner at Fortune Plus Consult Limited, applauded the organisers of the competition and pledged to reward the 19 volunteers with N20,000 and N10,000 each, according to their categories.

The organisers explained that the competition comes in preliminary stage where participants solve maths problems every week for six weeks to gain a spot on the league table to qualify for the knock-out stage.

Those who qualified for the knock-out stage will move to intense one-on-one battles for supremacy and bragging rights.

From this stage the final 20 participants will move to the final stage, which is a journey of intellectual thrill and problem-solving mastery.

Kuranga Muhammad from Vetland Senior Grammar School, who won N100,000, expressed his gratitude to the organisers and his joy for being among the best three in the competition.

“I really want to say a big thanks to the organisers for this opportunity to improve our maths and analytical skills.

“I feel very proud and happy for this feat, and I look forward to doing better next year,” he said.

Another beneficiary of the competition, who was among best 10 participants, said participating in competition among other things helped her to develop her self-esteem.