By Abike Sanusi
Teach For Nigeria (TFN), a non-profit organisation committed to promoting educational equity and excellence, has honoured its immediate past board chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, MFR.
He was honoured at a ceremony in Lagos which was well attended by philanthropists, government officials, board members, and ambassadors of TFN.
Oyebode, whose commitment has been instrumental in steering the organisation towards its vision of expanding educational opportunities for children, served as its pioneer board chairman for six years.
A statement by the TFN noted that under his leadership, it experienced unprecedented growth and impact with the organisation expanding its reach across four states, with over 1,500 fellows, and more than 190,000 children impacted. The organisation also developed an alumni network of 835 visionary leaders changing the nation’s education landscape.
“His tenure was marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, fostering partnerships with government and private entities, and spearheading innovative initiatives that positively impacted the lives of numerous students and communities,” it added.
At the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of TFN, Folawe Omikunle, praised Oyebode for his commitment and guidance in steering the organisation’s vision.
Current board chair, Kunle Elebute extolled the honoree’s leadership qualities and outstanding contribution to the growth of the organisation.
He announced the ‘Gbenga Oyebode Outstanding Leadership Award’ for exceptional TFN fellows as a legacy project in his honour.
Oyebode described TFN as an essential vehicle for change in Nigeria’s education. He noted that the organisation is not just about education but leadership, inclusive growth, and community. He urged everyone to become great role models, donate their time to the cause, and continue to show up to address education inequity in Africa.
He pledged support for the continuous success of the organisation.
The organisation restated its commitment to
developing a network of more than 20,000 leaders across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, while impacting over a million students annually by 2033.
