The Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) recently announced its 2025 list of Fellowship nominees, and one name, Otega Omoyibo, stands tall amidst top impact makers.
This nomination rebirths the thought of his impact and continued contributions to science education. Omoyibo did not start his work towards science education reforms, in 2022, he was a key figure in the reform toward promoting proper learning structure for science educational reforms that was held at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Since 2021, Omoyibo has served as a training facilitator for STAN Lagos where he has quietly transformed teacher training sessions.
According to Adeyanju Akintunde, Chairman of STAN Lagos, he said: “Omoyibo’s leadership and work as a STEM Coordinator and ICT Team Lead at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School had impressed STAN Lagos so much that we brought him on board to reverse post-pandemic disengagement among science teachers.” Still commenting on why Omoyibo joined the board, he added “We needed someone to reignite learning in a hybrid world, and Otega’s appointment exceeded all expectations.”
Omoyibo delivered hands-on sessions in the July 2022 mega-workshop which was themed Developing Digital Instructional Materials for Science. At the event, he delivered a session on Tools for Animation and Virtual Classroom. Also, the event saw top experts like Dr Kemi Oyelowo who talked about Introduction to Digital Content Creation, and Halima Dogo who delivered a passionate workshop titled Multimedia Engagement and Simulations for Practical Science and Mrs. Tolu Ezenwa who moderated a group activity and delivered a topic on ‘Creating a Digital Science Lesson.’
The feedback was instant and overwhelming. “I’ve attended plenty of trainings in my 15-year career,” said Mrs. Morayo Oke from Somolu. “But nothing like this. It was like a science carnival. We came away not just inspired but equipped.”
While discussing with Williams, Head of Science and Mathematics at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba, who had worked closely with Omoyibo stated that “Otega is known for working late into the night, curating impactful presentations and meticulously editing training manuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his contributions were instrumental in ensuring that our school did not fall victim to physical closures. Instead, he championed continuity through remote learning and kept students actively engaged despite the shutdown.”
By late 2022, NECO and WAEC science subject performances across Lagos began to reflect upward trends, and by 2024, the momentum had not waned. Independent evaluators and educational NGOs began correlating the improvements with the Lagos STAN training model. Teachers trained under Omoyibo had become trainers themselves, running district-level workshops and replicating digital science lessons across rural and urban classrooms alike.
Reflecting on Omoyibo’s lasting value of that 2022 initiative, STAN Lagos Secretary Mrs. Grillo commented that “The ripple effect of Omoyibo’s work continues to turn the tide of science education in Nigeria. We never anticipated this scale of influence. Teachers across local government areas are still using tools and strategies introduced three years ago and modifying them. This is what transformation looks like.”
Today, Otega Omoyibo teaches chemistry in Texas under a cross-cultural exchange program. However, his focus on science reform in Nigeria remains strong.
In a recent phone interview, he revealed that during his ongoing program, he stumbled on a new instructional method, an approach he believes can redefine engagement in Nigerian science classrooms. That method, currently being studied and refined, will be the subject of an upcoming article in the 2025 STAN journal.
Otega Omoyibo’s story is actively impacting with ongoing influence, bridging borders, breaking boundaries, and building the next generation of STEM thinkers.
