50 Students from 6 Countries attended the Academy in Uganda January 2012

In January 2012 the African Gifted Foundation held its second Academy in Kampala, Uganda and it was twice the size of the previous year.

This year 50 students from six countries attended. Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zanzibar were all represented by an outstanding group of students from a range of backgrounds, all of whom stood out as excellent mathematicians at their respective schools.

Once again the Academy took place at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, and was hosted by Dr Mango, Dean of the School of Physical Sciences at Makerere.

Beauty and Elegance in Mathematics

The Academy opened with a fascinating and inspiring lecture delivered by Thomas Hagspihl of St Andrews College, South Africa on “Beauty and Elegance in Mathematics”.

Then tutors from the UK ran a series of courses covering the mathematics of financial markets, codes and ciphers and space science. Dr Nick Motson from Cass Business School, London ran a very popular course on the dynamics of financial markets and banking. This included an online trading game and a trip to the Uganda Securities Exchange.

David Cope from Bletchley Park, the home of the legendary British code breakers once again delivered a fascinating course on codes, ciphers and encryption. Dr Simon Roberts from University of Nottingham and the UK’s Space Academy explored space and put the students’ rocket making skills to the test (he won – again!).

Trips, Presentations and Events

A visit to the Uganda Securities Exchange gave the students a chance to observe traders at work and a visit to the huge Kakira Sugar Works amazed them as to what it takes to produce 50% of Uganda’s entire sugar needs.

One of the highlights of the week was a series of presentations by young engineers from Tullow Oil. They presented on the oil and gas sector across Africa and talked openly about their own educational journey, careers and challenges as African engineers building successful careers in a major company on the continent.

Oliver Hire and Alesha White from Czarnikow Group, one of the world’s largest commodity trading groups based in the City of London flew in to share their insights about the global commodities industry. Oliver may also be responsible for introducing the game of rugby to Zanzibar after running an enthusiastic training session and handing the ball to one of the Zanzibari students at the end of the Academy.

A special moment for the Academy was when Ashish Thakkar the MD and Founder of Mara Group, one of Uganda’s fastest growing technology companies and charitable groups with over 4,000 employees in 17 countries presented to the students and spoke about his upcoming flight aboard Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft as East Africa’s first space traveller!

Everyone enjoyed a busy, stimulating week, culminating in a closing ceremony hosted by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and attended by local executives, dignitaries and the media.

Prizegiving

Schools of all shapes and sizes

Our students come from 24 different schools – some City, some rural. We are delighted to meet all our students from the following schools.

Botswana
Mater Spei, Francistown
Masunga
John MacKenzie
Francistown
Kenya
Starehe Girls Centre, Nairobi
Nigeria
Mercyland
Sacred Heart
Henry Alex Duduyemi
Kings College, Lagos
Day Waterman College, Abeokuta
Alaba Lawson
South Africa
St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Uganda
Ikoba Secondary School, Masindi
Kako Secondary School, Masaka
Masulita, Wakiso
Makerere College, Kampala
Nabisunsa Girls Secondary School, Kampala
Gayaza High School, Wakiso
Onwards and Upwards Secondary School, Wakiso
Kyambogo College School, Kampala
Bupadhengo Secondary School
Kibuli Secondary School
Mengo Senior School
Zanzibar
Kiponda Secondary School, Kiponda
Zanzibar Commercial Secondary School

Tom Ilube

Founder & Chairman

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and Miles Morland, Chairman of DPI and Blakeney Management