Six Nigerian teachers have been recognised for their innovative contributions to teaching and learning, winning the 2026 Summer Fellowship for Innovative Teachers (SFIT) Award and sharing $6,000 in prize money.
The award was presented at the 2026 SFIT Conference and Award held at the Restoration Conference Hall, Kingsville Schools, Jahi, Abuja.
The programme was organised by the Murdock-Thompson Center for Teachers (M-TC), United States, in partnership with the Intellectual Giants in Africa Foundation (INGAF).
The conference, themed “Championing Innovation in Africa: Honouring Teachers Who Shape the Future”, brought together teachers, school owners, education administrators, policymakers, development partners and education innovators from Nigeria and other countries.
The event recognised educators using creative approaches to improve classroom experiences and learning outcomes.
Among the speakers were M-TC President and Executive Director, William Lavin; former Governor of Delaware, United States, Prof. Bethany Hall-Long; Founder and Executive Director of the African Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI-4AI), Dr Uche Onyekpe; and INGAF Founder and Executive Director, Amb. Emmanuel Idiagi.
A key feature of the conference was a roundtable discussion on “Ethical AI in the Classroom”, which examined the opportunities and challenges associated with the growing use of artificial intelligence in education.
The conference also featured the first showcase of the fellowship’s Advanced Learning Community (ALC) Robotics Programme, led by M-TC Board Member and robotics expert, Michael Oche.
According to the organisers, the robotics initiative will create opportunities for schools and communities across Nigeria and Africa to participate in international competitions, including FIRST Robotics, while providing African students with opportunities to showcase their innovations globally.
‘Teachers deserve recognition and support’
Speaking at the event, Idiagi said the SFIT Award was established to restore dignity to the teaching profession and encourage innovative educators to remain in the sector.
He expressed concern about the movement of teachers into other industries, particularly banking and financial technology, describing the trend as contributing to brain drain in education.
Idiagi said teachers were fundamental to the development of every profession and therefore deserved greater recognition, encouragement and support.
He said the award was designed to make educators feel valued, particularly at a time when many teachers were poorly remunerated.
According to him, recognition and encouragement could improve teachers’ morale and motivate them to remain in the profession.
Idiagi disclosed that more than 30 teachers had received $1,000 awards across different states in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, with beneficiaries drawn from places including Benue, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the programme, which currently focuses on West Africa, would eventually be expanded to other African countries.
Idiagi also appealed to the Federal Government, United Nations agencies and international development organisations to support the initiative, noting that it had not received government funding since its establishment.
He explained that M-TC, founded in 1995, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with INGAF in 2021 to strengthen their collaboration on promoting innovation among African teachers.
Innovation, not qualifications, determines winners
Idiagi said the award was based primarily on the originality and practical impact of teachers’ innovations rather than their academic qualifications.
He explained that even simple classroom initiatives could qualify if they demonstrated the potential to improve students’ learning experiences.
He encouraged more schools to support their teachers in participating in the programme, saying recognition could promote a greater sense of belonging, fulfilment and motivation among educators.
Winners share their experiences
One of the winners, Victor Okonkwo, a Further Mathematics teacher at Community Secondary School, Asokoro, Abuja, developed “Smart Water Mathematics”, an innovation designed to promote efficient management of water resources by organisations, families and individuals.
Another winner, Nonso Ihejirika, a Digital Literacy teacher at Brighter School, Lugbe, Abuja, described the recognition as a major milestone in his career.
Mrs Eze Goodness Nnenaya, who teaches Entrepreneurship, Fashion Design and Garment Making at Kingsville School, Jahi, Abuja, said the award had renewed her passion for teaching.
Nnenaya said the recognition had motivated her to deepen her knowledge and improve the quality of instruction she provides to her students.
The organisers said the SFIT initiative would continue to identify, celebrate and support teachers whose innovations are making measurable contributions to classroom learning.
They also called for greater investment in teachers and stronger institutional support for educators driving innovation across Africa.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.