A former Vice-Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, has urged alumni to aid the development of education by giving back to their alma mater.

Mr Gbadegesin made the call in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday at the finals of Mathsbee 2024, a mathematics competition for primary school pupils.

The don, who chaired the occasion, stressed the need to support the government in repositioning the education sector, thereby solving the nation’s developmental challenges.

Mr Gbadegesin commended the organiser of the mathematics competition, Mathsbee Consult, adding that in the past, the government had been at the forefront of such competitions.

The convener of Mathsbee, Dr Seun Addie, described mathematics as the cornerstone of the arts and the foundation of the sciences.

He, however, said there were some misconceptions surrounding the learning and teaching of the subject, leading to fear.

“At Mathsbee Consult, we embrace the challenge of demystifying mathematics for both learners and teachers through our various initiatives,” Mr Addie said.

The winner of the 2024 Mathsbee, Taiwo Oyeyiola, a pupil of Ebire Nursery and Primary School, Ibadan, said that she was joyous clinching the first position.

Oyeyiola urged her colleagues to keep practising mathematics to get better at the subject.

The organiser awarded Oyeyiola N150,000; Oladuni Jimoh of the University of Ibadan Staff School, who came second, got N90,000.

 The third position award of N60,000 went to Babatope Daniel, also of Ebire Nursery and Primary School.

Both public and private primary schools participated in the competition across the state.

(NAN)