Lotanna Charles, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School Three pupil of Bishop Otubelu Juniorate, Enugu State, who scored 99 out of 100 and 337 out of 400 in the recently released Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, shares how his academic feat was inspired by his family background

Recently, you made the headlines when you scored 337 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and 99 out of 100 in mathematics. How do you feel about it?

I feel happy. I feel that I deserve the score because I really worked very hard in mathematics. I’ve been quite good at mathematics since primary school. I have been studying maths for a long time. I did not start late. I started early and I have been solving mathematical problems. When I don’t understand a topic, I always meet teachers to teach me and guide me.

Is mathematics your favourite subject?

Maths is my favourite subject and I knew from the start that I was going to do well in it in the UTME.

Which other areas are you interested in?

I do well in science subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and further maths. I also do well in English Language but I think I don’t put enough effort into English in the UTME. That was why I didn’t get a high score.

Are your parents also inclined toward mathematics?

My dad is a civil engineer. He works in Anambra State while my mum is a marketer. She advertises products for companies online. We are from Anambra but reside in Abuja. My dad is very well-inclined. He got an A in mathematics when he took the Senior School Certificate Examination.

Do you think excellence in mathematics runs in your family?

Yes. My grandmother was also a maths guru. She’s my father’s mother. She was a teacher and a nurse. She is now deceased but she was a teacher and was very good at mathematics. My father also inherited that, but he did not teach.

I have a good relationship with my parents. They really encouraged me during this period. They told me to focus more attention on my book and stop playing outside until the end of my major exams. I see them as the first people that trained me and built me. They deserve my appreciation.

I have four siblings and I am the first child. My other siblings are also maths-inclined. They’re very good. They top their classes in maths. They are also in school.

Where are you come from?

I am from Oba in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

How did you handle the UTME mathematics paper when it was given to you?

I saw the questions as very easy and when I solved them, I did that with a clear mind. I also cross-checked the work after I finished; I made sure that I went through them. I was quite accurate in my work. I answered the questions in 30 minutes. I solved them quite fast. The entire time for the examination was two hours for the four subjects. I took the UTME at Coal City University and it was computer-based.

How do you prepare for classes in secondary school?

Sometimes, I read ahead but when I don’t understand the main part, my teacher usually explains it better for me. That way, I get to understand it.

Do you sometimes doubt what your teachers teach you at school?

No. They teach properly. They don’t make mistakes, they know what they teach because all my maths teachers at school studied courses related to maths. So, they don’t teach the wrong thing.

Many Nigerians have a phobia about mathematics. Do you have pupils like that in your class and do they come to you to teach them?

Yes, I have them, especially those art-inclined. They actually come to learn mathematics from me or the teachers. There are also a few I helped to develop interest in maths.

I relate with every pupil that comes my way and use the opportunity to advise and encourage them to also try to be better. I don’t hold any position in the school. After the news of my achievement broke, my colleagues were very happy. They felt shocked that I scored 99 in mathematics.

With your mathematical skills, what is your aspiration?

I want to be a successful electrical engineer because my main interests are maths and physics. I have a passion for maths and physics and when you talk about maths and physics, you also talk about engineering. Also, I like electricity. People have advised me to study Law or the medical sciences but I don’t have that interest. Although I am also good at biology, my strong areas are maths and physics.

The world is turning green over climate change and advocates are advocating green energy. Do you have any interest in that?

I have thought about climate change issues. I have also thought about powering many machines because right now, our world is technology driven. I can see it as a way of also helping the society.

When you broke this news to your father, how did he react?

My father was very happy. He encouraged me to do a lot better in my Senior School Certificate Examination.

Do you think SSCE will be challenging?

No, I don’t see any challenge because SSCE is not just an exam you just start preparing for when the exam starts; you read for it ahead. It is not a fire brigade thing.

What did your school do when it became aware of your achievement?

It has not done anything but I am certain it will do something. We are currently busy with another external examination. The school will probably do something after that or when I will leave the school.

What was your score in the other UTME subjects

In other subjects, I scored 88 in Chemistry. I scored 86 in Physics and scored 64 in English Language. I scored 337 overall.

Some brilliant pupils are allowed to jump classes. Did you jump a class?

Yes, I skipped two classes. I skipped Primary Five and Six. I was enrolled in a secondary school from Primary Four. I really did well in my primary school, so my Primary Three teacher advised me to take the common entrance exam in Primary Four. However, the school did not have Primary Six. So, he advised me to take the exam and when I took the exam I passed. My parents approved that I should attend a secondary school.

Are you aware that you may not find a university that will admit you at the age of 15?

Yes, I know about that but I intend to study abroad.

What is your hobby?

I love playing games. I also enjoy playing chess and football. (Saturday PUNCH)

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