Teach For Nigeria (TFN) has honoured 44 members of 2021 graduating fellows for developing digital solutions that bridge the learning gap among 29 under-served public primary schools in Ogun State.
The fellows, honored, undertook special projects in the ‘Be the Change Project’, aimed at transforming the education system beyond the classroom. The graduating cohort implemented a total of 18 social impact projects in their placement communities in Ogun state, collectively reaching approximately 3,250 beneficiaries.
Precious Adegunle, one of the fellows, raised funds to provide internet-enabled tablets with lessons for her pupils, while other fellows (not mentioned) partnered with the Ogun State Government to digitalise the school curriculum and to broadcast their lessons via the State-owned television to millions of children in the country.
Olalekan Abiola, another fellow founded ‘The Teach For Nigeria Creative Kids Art Club’ which won the outstanding ‘Be The Change Award’ sponsored by Bosede Hephzibah Akinsanmi, a retired educator, with a cash prize of N350,0000 while other projects including Smart garden initiative, Alpha Cyry and First Step Initiative were also awarded cash prizes worth N650,000.
The Gbenga and Aisha Oyebode prize for outstanding leadership award and cash prize of N1 million was also presented to Akeem Badru, a public school teacher in the remote community of Ogunpa Lunloye for his commitment towards ensuring that his pupils are able to learn despite the poor living conditions.
Read also: Liberty Assured emerges outstanding digital lending company of 2021
Folawe Omikunle, chief executive officer, Teach For Nigeria, said at the graduation ceremony of the third Cohort of Teach For Nigeria Fellows that efforts and successes of the graduating cohort made it evident that it was indeed a movement of exceptional leaders that can change the narrative in Nigeria.
Omikunle said the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has made the fellows remain resilient, and adapt solutions that would improve learning outcomes in underserved communities.
Obiageli Ezekwesili, Nigeria’s former minister of education said one of the key issues that needed addressing was the quality and number of teachers in the classroom.
“The quality is however important because with quality teachers in the classroom, students are able to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy,” she said.
According to her, leaving the fellowship does not mean leaving everything they have gained but entails scaling all the skills gained in leadership, collaboration, core values, and mindsets.
“It includes translating your learning to shape the 21st century economy. You are a resource, so don’t undersell yourselves and remain purposeful. The world waits for you,” she added.
Gbenga Oyebode, board chairman, Teach For Nigeria, expressed delight on how the Alumni chose to remain in the education sector after completing the fellowship.
“Even when they leave, we still find them developing digital solutions to address challenges in the education sector. It is a testament to their commitment to contributing to the changes we see,” Oyebode said.
The graduating cohort of 44 Fellows were inducted in 2019 for a 2-year full-time paid commitment that was designed to build a movement of leaders who will work towards eliminating educational inequity in Nigeria.
