A Nigerian woman, Adefemi Adeola Adedunke, has clinched the award for Teacher of the Year, receiving a prize of 6.5 million naira alongside training in the United Kingdom.
Adefemi Adeola, serving at Keke Senior High School, Agege, Lagos, emerged as the winner of the 2023 9th edition Maltina Teacher of the Year competition.
She was immediately granted a cash incentive of N6.5 million naira, with an annual provision of 1 million naira to follow.
Additionally, she was honored with a fully sponsored professional development training in the United Kingdom. Her school is also to benefit from a fully furnished computer lab or a set of six classrooms, valued at N20 million, built in her name.
Adeola was further acclaimed by being nominated for the Global Teacher Award 2022, acknowledging her efforts in advancing her students’ education in underprivileged areas. When she began her teaching career, she served in a disadvantaged community in Lagos, Nigeria’s most populous local government area.
The school at which Adeola was appointed to teach had been branded “underachieving” because of three subsequent years of substandard performance in regional exams and a prevalent belief in the community that education held little value.
Leveraging her past experiences as a broadcaster and a member of the National Youth Service Corps, Adeola recognized the potential of extracurricular activities, after-school classes, and competitions to enhance academic performance.
To foster academic excellence, she initiated the ‘EVERY CHILD COUNTS’ campaign, and established clubs centred around various subjects, wherein students participated based on their interests. She was subsequently listed among the Global Top 50 Teachers in the World.
Adeola’s efforts and determination have empowered her students to accomplish feats beyond expectations. Over five years, they emerged victorious in 103 various competitions at the international, national and state levels, including the Commonwealth Day Inter-Schools Competition, the United Nations Poetry Competition, and the World Water Day Competition.
An Nigerian Woman Claims the Title of Teacher of the Year and the £6.5 Million Training in the UK
Besides these victories, she has also been named the CreditDirect Outstanding Teacher of the Year and the Junior Chamber International Outstanding Young Person in Nigeria. In 2020, the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Award recognized her efforts, and she was also declared the Overall Best Teacher in Lagos State Education District 1.
Adeola is not only an exceptional educator but also a valued contributor to educational discussions. Moreover, she holds prestigious accolades including being a Fulbright Fellow, a Microsoft Certified Innovative Educator, and a leading judge for The Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition.
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