Ghana’s young math prodigies have brought pride to the nation after sweeping top awards at the 2nd African Shenmo Cup International Abacus Mental Olympiad, held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village in Rwanda.
Themed “Empowering Young Minds, Realizing Africa’s Dream,” this year’s competition showcased the exceptional skills of two pupils from Al-Hikmah Islamic Montessori School.
Ridwan Mahmoud Jajah emerged as the overall champion, while his teammate, Ummu Sulaim Abass, claimed third place in a contest that featured more than 300 brilliant young competitors from 30 African nations, including Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Libya, Mozambique, Mali, Namibia, Zambia, and Cameroon.
Both students also won two gold medals and two trophies for Ghana in the Level 1 category, marking a double podium victory and a proud moment for the nation.
Their success was guided by Shenmo Ghana’s Principal, Mr. Musa Frimpong, and Abacus Instructor, Joseph Gyebi, who led the team with dedication and expertise.
Speaking at the event, Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of Education, Ms. Claudette Irere, expressed delight at seeing children confidently apply mathematical concepts while having fun.
She commended the Abacus program for building learners’ confidence, focus, creativity, and critical thinking.
The Director General of the Rwanda Education Board, Nelson Mbarushimana, noted that Rwanda has fully embraced the Shenmo Abacus Mental Math program as part of its education strategy, helping millions of children strengthen their arithmetic and analytical skills.
Li Mianjun, founder and President of Shenmo International Education Group in Beijing, China, emphasized that the abacus continues to thrive because of its power to transition learners from basic counting to advanced mental arithmetic.
The event drew dignitaries from across Africa, including government officials, education leaders, ambassadors, and international consultants such as Dr. Lily Cheng of San Diego State University in the U.S. Over a thousand participants, including students, parents, and guests, attended.
For Shenmo Ghana, this victory represents another milestone in its mission to transform math education in the country.
The team’s improved performance compared to the first edition held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 2023, reflects the organization’s growing impact in nurturing mathematical excellence among Ghanaian children.
Shenmo Ghana plans to expand its reach by setting up Abacus Clubs and Learning Centers across schools and communities.
The organization is calling on government and development partners to support efforts to give every Ghanaian child access to this transformative learning tool, one that enhances academic achievement and contributes to national development through STEM education.
From Kigali to Accra, the applause rings loud: Congratulations, Ridwan, Ummu, and the entire Shenmo Ghana team; you have made Ghana proud!.