LAGOS, NIGERIA – Faith Odunsi, a 15-year-old secondary school student, has brought pride to Nigeria by winning the Global Open Mathematics Tournament, outperforming participants from the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries.
Faith, an SS3 student from Ijebu, Ogun State, achieved this remarkable feat in a competition that drew participants from Europe, Africa, America, Asia, and Australia. Speaking with journalists, Faith shared her excitement and honor in winning what she described as a “tough competition.”
In detailing her journey to victory, Faith explained how she excelled through various stages of the contest. “In the first stage, there was a computer-based test where we had to answer many questions within one hour. I scored 66 on this test. The second stage followed the same format, and I again scored 66,” she said. The quarter and semi-finals involved answering questions on Microsoft Teams, with points awarded to the first correct response.
Faith balanced her preparation for the competition with her regular academic activities. She attended additional classes with her teacher after school and studied at night from 11 PM to midnight. Her dedication paid off, as she emerged the overall winner and was awarded $1,000 (approximately N379,000, according to the current exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Nigeria).
This isn’t Faith’s first record-setting achievement. In 2018, she made headlines by answering 19 questions in 60 seconds during the Cowbellpedia competition. Looking ahead, Faith intends to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering.
Faith’s success in the Global Open Mathematics Tournament underscores her exceptional talent and hard work, serving as an inspiration to young students across Nigeria and beyond.