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HomeNewsTwo Nigerian teachers shortlist for $1m Global Teacher Prize PHOTO

Two Nigerian teachers shortlist for $1m Global Teacher Prize PHOTO

Two teachers from Nigeria have been included in the top 50 shortlist for the $1million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018.
Ayodele Odeogbola, a STEM education and global studies teacher at Abeokuta Grammar School, Ogun State, and Itodo Anthony, who teaches chemistry, mathematics and physics at Gateway Excel College, Ogeneago Otukpo, Benue State, were shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize 2018 having been selected from over 30,000 nominations and applications from 173 countries around the world.
This is the first time in four years that any Nigerian teacher would be nominated for the Global Teacher Prize sponsored by Varkey Foundation.  
According to Varkey Foundation, the Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world. 
Congratulating Odeogbola and Anthony for reaching the final 50, the founder of the Varkey Foundation and the Global Teacher Prize, Sunny Varkey, said: “I hope their stories inspire those looking to enter the teaching profession and shine a spotlight on the incredible work teachers do all over the world every day.
“We intend to keep this momentum going as our journey continues to return teachers to their rightful position as one of the most respected professions in society.
 “We were overwhelmed by the huge support the Global Teacher Prize received this year. The over 30,000 nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives.”
Reacting to his nomination Odeogbola described it as another milestone. “I feel so highly elated to receive the news of my selection as one of the top 50 finalists and by extension, opening a space for Nigeria as a country for the very first time since the inception of this global competition. This is yet another milestone set for me and a nexus that would scale up 21st Century Skills in Education, technology in education and professional competencies of teachers in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.  
Odeogbola, who has a passion for developing his students to be future leaders and stakeholders in their world, uses collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication, combined with innovation and new technology to transform teaching as he explores personalised learning opportunities with specially chosen gifted students acting as group leaders and reviewing every school activity.
Anthony says his mission is to elevate the teaching profession to a place of pride and in his classes he tries to introduce positive values from other parts of the world to broaden students’ views of life.
He teaches the virtues of justice, institutional soundness, community service, value creation, among others, all elements from other cultures that can help create an ideal value system among Nigerian youth. In May 2017 he founded a community-based organisation for youth – New Frontiers Youth Forum. It welcomes membership from 13-35 year olds with the aim of raising young leaders to act as positive change agents within the community.
The top 50 shortlisted teachers will be narrowed down to 10 finalist teachers by a Prize Committee and the winner will then be chosen from the 10n finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy. All ten finalists will be invited to Dubai for the award ceremony at the Global Education and Skills Forum (GESF) on Sunday March 18, 2018, where the winner of the $1million Global Teacher Prize will be announced live on stage.

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