Though it may sound unreasonable and unbelievable, studies have shown however that rapid national development can be achieved through application of mathematics on the national economy.
Statistics have shown that mathematics is closely knitted and has a key role to play in areas like leadership, economics and finance; management; business and enterprise; information technology; sports; brand export; entertainment; services and agriculture and natural resources.
The Encarta English dictionary defined mathematics as a study of relationships using numbers: the study of the relationships among numbers, shapes, and quantities. It uses signs, symbols, and proofs and includes arithmetic, algebra, calculus, geometry, and trigonometry.
By definition, mathematics can be used in finding answers to questions and problems of everyday life. This simply means that mathematics can be applied in every facet of life including the general economy of the nation.
Indian statesman and first prime minister from 1947 to 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru, who perfectly understood the importance of mathematics in national development, said mathematics, as replicated in science and technology, was key to national development.
He said: “Science and Technology capabilities represent the major difference in the developed and the developing world.”
For him, “It was science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and literacy, of superstition and deadening custom and vast resources running to waste, of rich country inhabited by starving people.”
The Nigerian government, having discovered the important role of mathematics and science in national development, has also mandated the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyatu Ahmed Rufai to demystify mathematics through innovative teaching.
Speaking recently at a national workshop to mark the 2012 mathematical year, themed: Key to national transformation: The role of local governments, the education minister said that mathematics education has been identified as critical to Nigeria’s transformation agenda and national development.
She said: “In the spirit of the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration, the federal government has expressed in no uncertain terms its determination to nurture Nigerian youth capable of taking their destiny in their own hands through world-class education especially, mathematics and science education at school level.”
Enumerating other efforts at promoting mathematics by the government, Rufai said that the President has organized friendly and healthy competitions such as the forthcoming Nigeria Mathematics Queen competitions nationwide.
“This was aimed at enriching the knowledge of our pupils and students and it will also serve as a motivation for many young scholars on the importance of mathematics and, in fact, science in the development of the nation,” she added.
Speaking at the mathematical workshop, Rufai disclosed that 15 projects had been lined up to commemorate the 2012 Nigeria mathematical year.
“All of which had been carefully designed to motivate excellence in mathematical sciences, promote new areas of application, increase the impact of mathematical sciences in our drive to attain global competitiveness of our productive functions and optimization of resource capacity in the science and technology sector.
They are designed to remove phobia among students for the subject, popularize mathematics for national development and increase the interest for science and technology,” she elucidated.
The education helmsman further called on local government chieftains, who are the guardian of the grass roots, to promote mathematics education at their individual local level.
She charged them with the responsibility of encouraging and supporting activities leading to the improvement in the teaching and learning of mathematical sciences with the object of widening the scope of its application as a driving force for technological development of the nation.
“The workshop will not only provide opportunities for the local government chieftains to evaluate the potential input of mathematics to Nigeria Vision 20:2020, it will proffer solutions that will remove barriers and bottlenecks hindering the teaching and learning of mathematics at the local government level that will enhance our collective capabilities for a greater Nigeria,” she stated.
She stressed that observing the 2012 Mathematical Year by Nigeria shows the high level of commitment to the scientific and technological empowerment of citizens to conquer ignorance, diseases, poverty and squalor.
She noted that the government’s commitment to mathematical sciences will invariably enhance the capacity of citizens to contribute to national development and increase productivity of the GNDP.
Earlier on in his remarks, the director-general (DG), National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Sam Ale said that Mathematics and science are the bedrock of the social and technological development of any nation.
Ale said that the centre has embarked on various innovative projects to remove the phobia students have for mathematics by demystifying the application of the subject.
He said: “We have written books at the local government level, you know that the local governments are in charge of primary schools. We intend to present this book to them during the three-day national mathematics conference so that there will be improved performance at the grass roots and the local government levels.”
The DG also disclosed that the centre would soon embark on a special computer initiative programme to boost the teaching and learning of mathematics.
“The programme will be carried out under a contributory scheme where laptops will be distributed at a very subsidized rate, the government will pay part and the beneficiaries will complete the amount. We embarked on this project because we want to make use of the opportunities ICT has to offer.
For example a child can use IPAD to learn mathematics; this is because a lot of mathematics programme has been programmed into it. This we believe can boost the teaching and learning of mathematics,” he stated.