The South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) announced the winners of the 2023 SAIPA National Accounting and Maths Olympiad (NAMO). Launched in 2021, the competition fosters the development of promising future accountancy talent, while broadening the perspective of young people on how their knowledge can be applied in the dynamic business environment.
The latest Olympiad had a new format, designed to align with the shift towards automation, driven by the increasing demands of the digital era. Participants engaged in an open-ended project which included two written submissions and a presentation. This encouraged students to apply their own approach to researching information and problem-solving.
The 2023 NAMO winners are:
1ST place:
- Kevin Naylor – Worcester Gymnasium
2nd place:
- Innocent Maphanga – Lehlabile Secondary School
3rd place: (See main picture)
- Nicole Ramaube – Leap Science and Maths School
- Sibusiso Ramodisetsi – Leap Science and Maths School
- Lethabo Moleke – Leap Science and Maths School
- Thoriso Kgoete – Leap Science and Maths School
- Ruth Tema – Leap Science and Maths School
4th place
- Regis Ndove – Khanyisa Education Centre
5th place:
- Kamo Kele – Phumlani Secondary School
- Kamo Rammala – Phumlani Secondary School
- Lesego Shai – Phumlani Secondary School
Professor Rashied Small, Executive at the Centre of Future Excellence at SAIPA,
congratulated the winners and stressed that maths and accountancy skills provide access to numerous career opportunities and are in high demand for talented young professionals. He expressed SAIPA’s hope that the outstanding performance of 2023’s students will encourage more students to apply and participate.
“The Olympiad pushed me to extend my accounting knowledge beyond the classroom. It wasn’t just about testing accounting skills; it also demanded research, report writing, communication and entrepreneurial skills. This competition broadened my perspective on the business world and reshaped my thinking completely. I’ll never forget the positive impact this competition had on my life and I hope more students participate in the near future,” said Kevin Naylor, first prize in the Olympiad with a score of 95%.
The sponsors of this year’s competition were Sage, the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Accountancy, NtaNet Solutions and CAMAF Medical Scheme.
