Prof. Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann, the host of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), has revealed that she almost died from the stress of moderating 76 quizzes in a single year.
This was disclosed by the biomedical scientist during a Thursday conversation with host Bola Ray on Starr Chat on Starr FM.
In response to the host’s question about if she had ever been under pressure to quit, she said: “I have thought about it as my responsibilities have increased now. I am now a Dean, it is a good thing I only do thirteen contests in a year now. The largest number of contests I have done in a year is 76, the thing nearly killed me. It nearly killed me, I was ill in the middle of that programme and it was the year after that, that other quiz mistresses joined.”
The University of Ghana’s Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences refuted allegations made by some members of the public that she favors some universities over others when moderating the well-liked quiz contest.
“I don’t take sides, I have no interest in any school. I don’t know the contestants from anywhere. I am not interested in any school, when I get there, I am there to do a professional job. This is why you must be careful about slandering someone, because without that reputation for fairness I would not have lasted this long. If you like me to resign today, I would do so.”
