The NSMQ Story: From a Spark of Curiosity to a National Legacy
- vanessa nordzi
- May 9
- 4 min read
Updated: May 14
The idea for producing a science-based quiz programme aimed at encouraging the study of the sciences was sparked unexpectedly on the tennis court of the University of Ghana, Legon. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon in March 1993 when Dr Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu, then Managing Director of Primetime Limited, went to enjoy a game of tennis with his regular playmate—the late Professor Ebenezer Kweku Awotwe, a Professor of Animal Science.
As they took a break, Dr Mensa-Bonsu’s attention was drawn to birds perching freely on live electric wires, seemingly unaffected by the current. Driven by curiosity, he asked why birds could do so without harm, while humans risked electrocution. Prof. Awotwe explained that birds are not electrocuted because they do not create a circuit for electricity to flow, thanks to their physiology and the way they interact with the wire.
That moment of casual inquiry blossomed into something far greater. Inspired by the scientific explanation behind such an everyday phenomenon, Dr Mensa-Bonsu envisioned a platform where the wonders of science and mathematics could be brought to life for students and the general public alike. It would be more than just a quiz—it would foster a culture of inquiry, learning, and national pride. By April 1993, he had drafted a proposal for a science and maths quiz programme and presented it to Lever Brothers, producers of the then-popular Brillant soap. They agreed to sponsor what was initially called the Brillant Science and Maths Quiz.
To bring the idea to fruition, Dr Mensa-Bonsu reached out to a trusted friend, the late Professor Marian Ewurama Addy, who became the first quiz-mistress and the face of the programme. He further enlisted the support of subject consultants, including Professor Awotwe (Biology), Professor William Asomaning (Chemistry), and Dr Douglas Adu-Gyamfi (Mathematics), to craft rigorous, curriculum-based questions.
Dr Mensa-Bonsu then approached the Ghana Education Service (GES), where he met with Mr Alexander Narh Tettey-Enyo, then Director for Secondary Education. With GES’s support, 16 senior high schools were selected to participate in the first edition. The schools were grouped into Northern and Southern sectors. By September 1993, the balloting had been conducted, and in October of that same year, the first set of contests took place.
In his interview on the NSMQ Live Chat held on April 30, 2025, Dr Kwaku Mensa-Bonsu reminisced about some of the most memorable moments that have shaped the National Science & Maths Quiz over the years. He recounted a particularly tense contest in 1993 between Aburi Girls’ SHS and Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), during which the headmistress of Aburi Girls expressed strong reservations about the pairing, fearing her students would not be able to match the prowess of GSTS. To her astonishment and delight, however, Aburi Girls emerged victorious.
Dr Mensa-Bonsu also recalled how, in that same year, Kpando SHS stunned their school community by defeating Bishop Herman College. At the time, some teachers from Kpando SHS expressed concern about facing such a formidable opponent. However, the opposite happened, as Kpando SHS defied expectations and emerged victorious. He also recounted how Pope John’s SHS pulled off an unforgettable triumph over Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon (PRESEC-Legon). These episodes, he noted, reflect the spirit of determination and unpredictability that have come to define the NSMQ.
Throughout these formative years, the programme encountered both triumphs and trials. When Lever Brothers ended their sponsorship in 1998, the name of the programme was changed to the National Science & Maths Quiz. It was then sponsored by Amstel Malta (Ghana Breweries Ltd) until 2001. Sponsorship continued under the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) from 2002 to 2008.
However, between 2009 and 2011, the programme faced significant financial difficulties. In 2009, with no sponsors, Primetime Ltd had to self-finance the production and broadcast. This unsustainable model led to a two-year hiatus in 2010 and 2011. The overwhelming public demand for the quiz’s return motivated Primetime to engage the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), which then lobbied GES to allow a levy on SHSs to fund the programme. Thanks to this effort, the NSMQ returned in 2012.
The revival brought significant growth. In 2014, the number of participating schools rose to 135, from 81 in 2013 and 40 in 2012. In 2023, the NSMQ welcomed private senior high schools to the fold, and in 2024, a record-breaking 157 schools took part in the National Championship.
In 2013, the torch was passed on to the current Managing Director of Primetime Ltd, Nana Akua Mensa-Bonsu. Her leadership has transformed the NSMQ, bringing it into the digital era through the use of technology and social media, which has greatly expanded the programme's reach and relevance.
“I didn’t have the benefit of technology in my time, but I’m proud of how she has taken it to a whole new level, with fresh ideas each year.” Dr Mensa-Bonsu remarked.
Today, the National Science & Maths Quiz is not merely a competition—it is a national celebration of academic excellence and STEM innovation. It brings together schools, alumni, traditional leaders, policy makers, and Corporate Ghana, capturing the imagination of the nation year after year. From a spark of curiosity on a tennis court to a powerful educational movement, the NSMQ has firmly established itself as an enduring symbol of brilliance in Ghana’s academic landscape.
