Educraft Holds Maiden SIP Abacus Secondary School Competition

To prepare children for all kinds of mathematical challenges, Educraft Nigeria Limited, holder of the country’s franchise of Sociable, Intellectual and Progressive (SIP) Abacus Academy, Malaysia has organised the first Abacus Lagos Schools Competition Championship in Lagos.

The grand finale of the mathematics competition which held at the Redeemers International Schools (RIS), Apapa, Lagos recently, saw RIS coming first position, beating two other schools: Devine Children Place and Epitome Kiddies Care School which emerged second and third respectively.

At the event, RIS was honoured with the Most Prestigious SIP Abacus School; Devine Children Place won “The Most Supportive and Loyal SIP Abacus School” while Epitome Kiddies Care School was recognised as “The Most Progressive SIP Abacus School”.

Speaking at the event, Managing Director/CEO of Educraft Limited, Napoleon Omiunu said the competition was organized to improve the ability of students in mathematics, adding that it is all about building talents and confidence, determination in students so that they be able to capture mathematical challenges and put them under control.

Omiunu said many schools across the state started the competition together but that the number was pruned down, to three schools which competed at the grand finale, sponsored by Unilever Nigeria Plc; SIP Academy Malaysia and SIP Academy America

He said “We organised the competition in such a way that all the schools come together and we select the best few. We pruned it down to the best three which participated at the grand finale. That is what we are doing today. These schools are not the only ones that participated in the abacus competition. The course is very outstanding and the purpose is to tell the world about the uniqueness of SIP abacus to other kinds of abacus. It prepares the child world numbers such that they can tackle mathematical challenges with precision”.

Although, there was no cash reward for the maiden edition, medals cups and plaques were presented to the winners of each category of the competition. Omiunu, however, pointed out that in the coming editions, there could be incentives and scholarships awards and that SIP Academy in Malaysia will grace the occasion next year.

“It is a low-key certification and it not about the crowd. But about the task and the talent and confidence, determination to capture mathematical challenges and put them under control. In subsequently ones, SIP Abacus from Malaysia and America will be involved and we will have bigger audience and more participants. Our grand finale, that time, may not just be three schools; we may be having about eight or ten schools. That time, the competition will be stiffer and tougher and the reward will be more robust”, Omiunu explained.

The Educraft boss said his organisation is the sole franchise holder of SIP Academy Malaysia worldwide, just as he noted that they cut across every nook and cranny of Nigeria. 6-12

“As a franchise holder of the best abacus in the world, it means we have the license and exclusive right over SIP abacus practices in Nigeria. Nobody can do it anywhere except through Educraft limited. Secondly, like I said; SIP abacus being the best, we want to use this competition as a leveler to ensure that whatever American and Asian students  enjoy in SIP, we enjoy it here in Nigeria too. For instance, Harvard is interested in our scholars. Aisha Mohammed who came second last three years is now in Harvard and she will graduate very soon. What that means is that we want to replicate that in Nigeria. Our Nigerian students are good. When they go to West African competitions, they come out with flying colours”.

He said that Educraft has been able to talk to most of the schools on abacus training, stressing that so far those who can afford it are already benefiting from it while there are still some that are putting their house in order to get involved.

“As a matter of fact, we listed over 1000 schools in Lagos, some have called us for presentations while other are still promising to engage us later. Those who can afford it, run with us but those who can’t are making efforts to be able to be part of the SIP abacus learning.

Earlier, Omiunu had advised schools in Nigeria to imbibe the culture of abacus Maths and Brain Gym classes for children so as to completely eradicate the phobia associated with calculating big numbers.

With these value placements, Omiunu said that it enables the children to do calculation in a way that saves time since they now have to work with basic tense units of hundreds and thousands number placements.

Emphasising that abacus optimises and integrates the functions of the left and right brain during the early years, Omiunu said “abacus is a calculating device that can help children beat the challenges of calculating and working with big numbers. Abacus has penciled down the truth that children are scared of big numbers. So what abacus does is to break these big numbers to figures and put them in value placements. And you begin to work with it in a way that it will save time. With that, the children will be able to work the basic tense units of hundreds and thousands number placements and their calculations will be easier”.

According to the Educraft boss, abacus which costs about N15, 000 is designed for children between the age brackets of 5 to 12 years because that is the period when the child’s mind and brain form. At that age, Omiunu pointed out that, use of abacus stimulates the nerves in the fingers and sends messages through the neurons.