In what appears to be a record-breaking feat, an award-winning teacher at Imagbon/Imaka Comprehensive High School, Imagbon, Ogun State, Kayode Adewale has put Nigeria on the global map.
Adewale, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educator has been recognized for his innovative teaching method of translating complex mathematical problems into local language.
The 41-year-old was shortlisted for a $1 million Global Teacher Prize (GTP) and emerged as one of the 50 finalists in the 2025 edition as the only Nigerian who made the shortlist and one of the seven finalists from Africa.
Unarguably, many Nigerians, just like Adewale, are breaking grounds and shattering glass ceilings across the world. Nigerians all over the world in different areas are celebrated and valued for the exposure.
Expectedly, Adewale’s feat earned him a truckload of congratulatory messages. The news about the record-breaking achievement took over social media. It was a pleasant antidote, breath of fresh air and a refreshing departure from the political atmosphere.
The Global Teacher Prize is an international award celebrating exceptional teachers making outstanding contributions to the profession. It was established in 2014 by the Varkey Foundation and is presented annually in partnership with UNESCO. The award aims to highlight the critical role of teachers in shaping the future and solving some of the world’s greatest challenges through education.
The Prize, now in its 11th edition, offers a $1 million reward to the overall winner and aims to highlight the value of educators worldwide in shaping equitable and sustainable societies.
In a statement, it said: “By introducing platforms like the Technology-Assisted Management Solution (TAIMS) and educational apps like Inquiry Learning Space (ILS) and PhET simulation, Adewale has cultivated digital literacy and enhanced performance in national and regional exams.”
Through his Transformation1090 Initiative, he has also trained over 30,000 teachers, equipping them with tools to integrate technology into their teaching practices.
Adewale’s previous honours include Ogun State’s best senior secondary school teacher in 2020, winning 30 laptops from Co-Creation Hub for his school in 2019, Ogun State Maltina Best Teacher of the Year 2022, shortlisted for the 2024 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programme, among others.
Read Also: Meet Nigerian teacher, Kayode Adewale using local language to teach Mathematics
To many Educationists, Adewale’s achievement didn’t come as a surprise. He has been knocking on the doors of success over the years through hard work due to his consistent pursuit of excellence.
For Adewale, winning the Global Teacher Prize could not have come at a better time. It reminded the world of the greatness that is in and of Nigeria, despite the odds. Make no mistake about it, Nigeria has everything it takes to be great and occupy a front-row seat among nations as a world leader.
Not many are aware of Adewale’s teaching journey. His journey to his latest feat began three years ago. He failed to give up on his dream of winning this coveted prize even though he had failed in his two previous attempts.
Quite apart from the euphoria of having a Nigerian winning this prize, those at the helm of affairs have many great lessons to learn from the episode, especially prioritising the funding of education and research at all levels.
