23rd August, 2015
Participants from eight African countries have so far arrived in Abuja for the Pan-African Science Olympiad 2015, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.
The Olympiad, which began on Saturday with registration of participants, would be formally opened on Monday, Aug. 24 at the ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja.
NAN gathered that 17 African countries had indicated interest to participate in it.
The 17 countries likely to compete in the event are Benin, Botswana, Bukina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda.
So far, participants from Benin, Bukina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Niger, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia and the host country, Nigeria have arrived for the event.
The Pan-African Science Olympiad is a competition for gifted and brilliant secondary school students in the sciences; each country will be represented by six students comprising three male and three female students.
The programme identifies very talented children early, develops them rapidly in one or more subject areas for national and international competitions.
It is organised by the National Mathematical Centre, Nigeria and will run till Saturday, Aug. 29.
National Mathematical Centre trains and develops high level personnel in Mathematical Sciences, including Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, and Theoretical Physics for Nigerian and African institutions.
It serves national and international communities and acts as a focal point for advanced research and training in Mathematical Sciences and applications.
The centre enhances collaboration among mathematical scientists, especially between young Nigerian scientists and other experienced scientists from within and outside Nigeria.
It encourages and supports activities leading to the improvement of the teaching and learning of mathematical sciences at all levels while attracting good mathematical scientists from all over the world into the service of Nigeria.