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Nigerian foreign scholar sets to break new grounds on mathematics education in doctoral research
A young Nigerian scholar, Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Umeh, who is currently on his doctoral degree programme in the United States of America (USA) is set to break new grounds in the field of Mathematics and Education with special focus on providing possibilities of teaching and learning mathematics with the aide of the grasp of immigrants’ indigenous cultures from asset based perspectives .
When completed, Umeh’s research findings will be of huge benefits to researchers in tertiary institutions , High school teachers, refugee organizations and scholars on the need of understanding of immigrants’ indigenous cultures in teaching mathematics.
Informing about this laudable development in a piece tagged:” Bridging Cultures in Mathematics Education: An Innovative Approach To Understanding African Immigrants and Refugee Youth Background In Western Culture”, Umeh said: “In today’s diverse educational landscape, immigrant and refugee students pose challenges and opportunities for educators and teachers in the United States and across the globe. With newcomers comprising 14.4% of the population, according to the Migration Policy Institute (2020), schools are witnessing a notable influx of students from refugee backgrounds and those who have immigrated with their families. Among them, African newcomers form a significant demographic, bringing with them rich cultural and linguistic backgrounds that influence their learning experiences.
Recent years have seen a steady rise in refugee admissions to the U.S., with numbers climbing from 11,411 in 2021 to 25,465 in 2022 and an anticipated 60,000 in 2023, as reported by the Refugee Processing Center (RPC, 2023).
“This demographic shift necessitates a thoughtful approach from educators, who must navigate the complexities of teaching mathematics to students with diverse linguistic and sociocultural backgrounds.”
Having been volunteering for Refugee Organizations in the United States and working closely with teachers of refugee background, The Anambra State born Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Umeh”s research on Mathematics Education at the University of Missouri, U.S focused on educational cultural systems and mathematical learning. It sheds light on the unique challenges African multilingual students face in American classrooms and how it is important to create a system that can foster cross-cultural relationship between teachers and refugee students. His research underscores the need for tailored educational approaches that cater to the specific needs of these students. Central to his work is the “Math-trivium framework,” a conceptual framework he developed to bridge the gap between research and practice in mathematics education.
To further this innovative research, Emmanuel is set to travel to Kenya as a visiting researcher. He will collaborate with Masinde Murilo University of Science and Technology Kenya, using his framework to study refugee students at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, specifically looking at the role of culture, language, use of technology, and mathematical experiences of refugee youths from an asset-based perspective and how teachers can leverage on such experiences to help them achieve mathematical success when they immigrate to western culture.
His work promises to potentially impact improving educational outcomes in Kenya and cross-cultural relationships between refugee youths and educators across the globe. The Findings from this study have informed policy and practice, leading to more effective strategies for teaching mathematics in refugee contexts and enhancing the overall educational experiences of refugee students.
The Math trivium framework is rooted in understanding how African multilingual students engage with mathematics through their cultural lenses. It identifies three essential components: communication (literacy), mathematization (Matheracy), and tools (technocracy), each deeply embedded in cultural knowledge. For recent immigrants, proficiency in mathematics often requires mastery of English as a communicative language and adaptation to new mathematical systems and technological tools different from those in their home countries.
Umeh’s framework emphasizes the importance of cultural knowledge in fostering mathematical competence among immigrant students. By recognizing and leveraging students’ cultural backgrounds, educators can create more equitable and inclusive learning environments. This approach not only enhances students’ mathematical skills but also validates their unique experiences, promoting a deeper engagement with the subject.
“Understanding recent African multilingual high school students’ mathematical learning experiences inside and outside the classroom is crucial,” Umeh explains. “It allows us to develop strategies that empower these students to succeed academically while honoring their cultural identities.”
Through his research, Umeh advocates for a shift in educational practices towards more culturally responsive teaching methods. By integrating cultural knowledge into mathematics instruction, educators can better support immigrant students’ academic and cultural integration, fostering a learning environment where every student can thrive.
As the educational landscape continues to evolve, Emmanuel Chukwuebuka Umeh’s work stands as a testament to the transformative potential of culturally informed teaching practices in mathematics education. By embracing diversity and cultural richness, educators can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable educational experience for all students.
Umeh is a graduated with first class honors from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Abia State, and was retained as a Junior Lecturer in the same University before he won a fellowship and travelled to Universidade federal de ouro preto in Brazil for a program in Ethnomathematics. He proceed to the United States for his Doctoral degree where he has won several awards including international discovery award the John BIES fellowship.
Three kidnappers suspected to have attempted to kidnap the wife of a member of the Delta State House of Assembly have been killed by the police in a fierce gun duel.
According to the information on PUNCH Metro, it was gathered that the hoodlums had failed in an attempt to kidnap the woman on September 2, 2024, at the Okoloba Junction, Jakpa Road, Uvwie, where the suspected kidnappers killed two policemen and the driver, Mr. David Imela, during the incident.
However, the police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, confirmed this to the PUNCH Metro on Sunday in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
He said, “Following the failed attempted kidnap of the wife of one of the members of Delta State House of Assembly where the suspected kidnappers murdered two Mobile Policemen and the driver, the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, immediately ordered a water-tight deployment around Warri and its environs as well as narrowing the roads and blockage of all exit points.
“Police operatives of the Ebrumede Division led by the DPO CSP Iwok Ndifereke strategically deployed and created an artificial hold-up at the DSC Roundabout and sighted the vehicle as described with a matching registration number.
“On noticing the traffic and sighting the policemen, the hoodlums opened fire on the team which the team equally responded professionally owing to the busy nature of the area.”
He said the hoodlums immediately abandoned the vehicle shattered with bullets and escaped with bullet injuries while three AK-47 rifles and their operational vehicle with registration no. WWR-436-GZ were recovered.
According to Edafe, the CP who was not satisfied with their escape, directed that the DPO Ebrumede should go all out and ensure the suspects were arrested and brought to book.
“Armed with available information and exhibits found in the abandoned vehicle, on October 3, 2024, the DPO Ebrumede Division, CSP Iwok Ndifereke, led operatives to their hideout in Agbarho where the police engaged the suspects in a fierce gun duel.
“The policemen who prepared for the battle ahead overpowered the hoodlums, three of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped and another AK-47 rifle was also recovered.
“The suspects were taken to the hospital where they were confirmed dead. A manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing,” he said.
Edafe said Olufemi also commended the bravery the DPO and his men displayed during the operation and urged other officers and men of the command to emulate them.
The Ogun State police command on Monday said that its Igbeba Division, Ijebu-Ode, arrested one Shedrack Olawale Olayemi, who had been on the police wanted list for armed robbery and alleged rape of some female students of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, in July.
The spokesperson for the state police command, SP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Monday.
Odutola said that Olayemi was picked up after an intelligence report revealed that the 33-year-old alleged armed robber and rapist was sighted at the university area, Ijagun, where he has been trying to conceal his identity.
The statement said, “The divisional police officer of Igbeba Division has arrested a wanted notorious suspect for armed robbery.
“Following a tip-off, that one Olayemi Olawale Shedrack, aged 33 was sighted in Ijagun, trying to conceal himself among other citizens, but his identity was immediately confirmed by intelligence, and the police were contacted. In swift action, he was apprehended.
“Olayemi Olawale Shedrack has been on the police search for armed robbery and rape. He was fingered as the prime suspect for an alleged crime of armed robbery and rape in which he participated actively on the 21st of July, 2024, where he and his cohort broke into a female Royal Villa accommodation area in Tai University of Education Ijagun, where he robbed harmless female students of their luxury educational devices, including laptops, iPhones, sports wristwatches and cash, and further had unlawful carnal knowledge of the innocent female student and has since fled.”
The police said that a preliminary investigation has commenced, and the suspect has been immediately taken to the Igbeba police station for interrogation and will soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and prosecution.
The U.S. President appeared with Vice President Kamala Harris together at a White House event focused on “curbing gun violence.”
Joe Biden signed a new executive order that will restrict the use of certain gun technologies. Specifically, authorities will crack down on the threat of 3D printed weapons and “ghost guns”.
A task force is being set up to assess the risks of devices that remake semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic weapons.
Schools will also revise their approach to shooting clubs, according to the executive order. The feds will develop specific guidelines to ensure that “active shooter” lessons aren’t psychologically damaging to kids.
Biden said that if we want to reduce crime in the U.S., we have to talk about guns. Harris said she favors a complete ban on assault weapons, as well as implementing background checks for purchasers and passing strict safe storage laws.
