At African Leadership Academy (ALA), we take pride in celebrating students who relentlessly pursue excellence and seize every opportunity to grow. Last December, two of our exceptional students, Chinazom Joyce Onubogu '23 (Nigeria) and N'Dri Ange Victoria Krah '23 (Cote D'Ivoire), made us incredibly proud by attending the prestigious Stellenbosch Mathematics Camp in Cape Town, South Africa.
Held from December 8th to 13th, this wasn’t just any mathematics camp. The Stellenbosch Mathematics Camp brought together the top 100 scorers from the South African Mathematics Olympiad, creating a gathering of some of the brightest young minds in the country. Hosted by Stellenbosch University, the camp featured a week packed with challenging problem-solving sessions, high-level mathematical discussions, and an inspiring atmosphere where a shared passion for mathematics thrived.
What sets this camp apart is its exclusivity—invitations are earned, not requested. Chinazom and N'Dri’s stellar performances in the Olympiad ranked them among South Africa’s top 50 participants, an extraordinary feat that speaks to their hard work, talent, and determination.
The camp was thoughtfully structured to cater to each participant’s abilities, offering three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. This ensured that every student, regardless of their starting point, was both challenged and supported. For Chinazom and N'Dri, the experience went beyond honing their mathematical skills—they also built meaningful connections with like-minded peers from across the country.
Reflecting on the experience, Chinazom shared:
“I learned so much, not just about math, but about myself. Being around people who love math as much as I do was so inspiring. It pushed me to think differently and embrace new challenges.”
For N'Dri, the camp’s value extended beyond academics:
“This experience showed me that teamwork and persistence can make all the difference. I’ll always remember the moments of discovery and how much I grew during that week.”
At ALA, we believe that transformative moments like these are vital. They remind our students—and all of us—that the pursuit of knowledge knows no limits. Excellence is as much about persistence and grit as it is about talent, and Chinazom and N'Dri’s accomplishments embody this philosophy.