Onumadu
Having had some difficulties understanding mathematics in his early days in school, but struggled to make a grade that enabled him gain admission into tertiary institution, Ugochukwu D. Onumadu, vowed to allay the challenges of passing mathematics for those coming after him.

With this determination, he began to seek for ways to make the dreaded subject lovable to students at all levels. Starting from his early years in school to the period he was undergoing his post graduate studies, the experiences garnered formed part of Maths Language for Beginners (1).


The book’s sole aim is to introduce students, especially those finding the subject difficult and complex to understand, the latest techniques to make them havea grasp of the subject and improve their performances in school.

Disclosing his drive, the author said: “The book was born out of my personal experience with mathematics and a deep desire to help others overcome the challenges I once faced,” continuing, he revealed, “growing up, I struggled with mathematics, sitting for entrance exams multiple times before a dedicated mathematician shared the key to understanding its logic, which helped me pass my exams and also, ignited a lifelong passion for the subject in me that spurred me to pursue it further in my academics.”

Overcoming the hurdle, young Onumadu’s likeness for numeric subjects grew to the extent that he resolved to study a numeric course; firstly, statistics and later, mathematics.

Armed with a bachelor’s in Statistics from University of Imo State University (IMOSU)and master’s degrees in statistics from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and also in mathematics and an MBA, couple with his over 15 years of teaching both subjects, Onumadu is now grounded to proffer solutions on how to demystify the highly dreaded subject.

Drawing from his well of experience, he realised that students most times approach the subject with fear, making it to appear as an insurmountable challenge, instead of being a skill to be mastered. It is in the light of this that he came up with mathematics language, a technique that simplifies each theme or concept; presenting each topic or concept in a language form to be followed in a step-by-step guide to unfold solutions to any problem posed.

According to him, just as understanding the parts of speech in English language enables one to speak good English, so, it is with mathematics language. Understanding the language of mathematics would enable students identify and apply the mathematics “grammar” and “vocabulary” on any topic; know the logic and theorems.

This technique, a move away from the norm in most mathematics books, is the result of the over 15 years of research and teaching in different schools in Africa, the U.S.A. and Europe. Testing the technique among group of students across different schools has shown some level of improvement on their performances, especially those who before now never believed they could have a good grade in the subject. The technique presents mathematics as a structured language with its own parts of speech.

This methodology provides key to mastering mathematics and bridges the gap between students’ fear and their potential.

Explaining the import of spending almost two decades researching on how to make the teaching-and-learning of mathematics easier, Onumadu noted it is as a result of the importance of the subject to humanity, stressing that mathematics deserves prompt attention because it is a compulsory subject for university admission in most countries across the world and also, a foundation course for critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.

According to him, the subject is relevant in every field, science, technology, engineering, commerce, humanities, among others, and also opens doors to innovation and diverse career opportunities.

Disclosing some of his findings, while embarking on the research, he said: “My pioneering research in Germany demonstrated the robust application of mathematics and artificial intelligence (AI) in real-world challenges, specifically in global real estate. The study used mathematical techniques like multiple linear regression with interaction effect to model and analyse over 2.6 million apartment data points and uncovered key determinants of rental in Munich and Berlin. By applying data-driven methods, we provided insights that guided real estate investments, urban planning and policy development.

“This research advanced the real estate sector and contributed to innovations in artificial intelligence and machine learning apart from highlighting the vital role of mathematics in solving complex global problems. The work bridged continents, offering actionable solutions for Africa, Europe and the U.S.A. and also emphasised mathematical modeling in shaping industries and improving lives.”

https://guardian.ng/art/ugochukwu-onumadu-teach-maths-sciences-in-local-languages-for-global-tech-empowerment/