Simi Nwogugu calls on Nigeria’s changemakers to step forward for the inaugural Africa Education Medal

Simi Nwogugu, CEO of Junior Achievement Africa, has called on Nigeria’s changemakers to apply or be nominated for the inaugural Africa Education Medal, launched by T4 Education in collaboration with HP and Intel.

Simi Nwogugu, the CEO of Junior Achievement Africa has joined leading figures from across Africa in support of the new award that will be given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.

In the decades leading up to the pandemic, Africa had been making great strides in boosting school enrolment. To protect and expand upon these vital gains in the wake of COVID, teachers, NGOs, politicians, tech entrepreneurs, and figures from the public and private sectors, will need to work together to build a future where every child in Africa can achieve the quality education that is their birthright.

T4 Education was founded in 2020 during the pandemic and brought together a community of 200,000 teachers from over 100 countries. At first, the plan was to simply help teachers navigate the ‘new normal’, but then to provide them with tools, events and initiatives to improve education in the wake of COVID and give teachers and schools the voice they deserve at the top table of decision-making.

The Africa Education Medal (one of T4 Education’s initiative) was launched this year in collaboration with HP and Intel to recognise the tireless work of those who are changing education across the continent – to celebrate the stories of those who have lit the spark of transformation so others will be inspired to take up the torch.

The Africa Education Medal will be awarded to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.

Brad Pulford, Managing Director at HP Africa, said, “HP has been committed to enabling better learning outcomes for 100 million people between 2015-2025. Achieving this bold goal wouldn’t be possible without empowered education leaders and trailblazers who are at the forefront of the rapidly changing education environment.

A quality education empowers not just individuals, but entire communities. It will skill the next generation to fulfil their full potential in a world being transformed by technology.

The Africa Education Medal not only honours the tireless work of those seeking to improve education all across Africa, but gives them a platform to amplify their voices and inspire others to follow their examples.”

In addition, Simi Nwogugu, CEO of Junior Achievement Africa, stated, “a good education will empower young people in Nigeria and across Africa to fulfil their full potential, secure better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities.

I am a beneficiary of great educational institutions from attending a public secondary school in Lagos, Nigeria to attaining an MBA at Harvard Business School, which empowered me to return to Nigeria to expand the work of JA across Nigeria and the continent.

Africa’s great changemakers know education is the key to our continent’s prosperity in a global economy. I urge inspirational leaders from Nigeria and across Africa to step forward and apply for the Africa Education Medal so their stories can inspire thousands more.”

Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Education:

“Quality education will help African countries grow and prosper. And it will help Africa produce the public leaders of tomorrow who will go on to grapple with the continent’s greatest challenges from inequality, to climate change, food insecurity and disease. The Africa Education Medal recognises those who are working every day to make that vision a reality.”

The Africa Education Medal is open to individuals working to improve pre-kindergarten, K-12, vocational and university education who are one of the following:

● Educators and school administrators

● Civil society leaders

● Public servants and government officials

● Political leaders

● Technologists and innovators

Nominees must demonstrate their contribution in any of the following key areas in

education:

● Significantly improving learning outcomes

● Promoting girls’ education

● Promoting equity and broadening access to education

● Advancing pedagogical or technological innovation

● Building and strengthening educator capacity

● Catalysing civic participation in education

● Championing the rights of education stakeholders

The Top 10 finalists for the Africa Education Medal will be announced in July and the winner will be announced in September. Nominees will be assessed by a Jury comprising prominent individuals based on rigorous criteria.

Nominations, including self-nominations, can be made online and will close on June 3, 2022.

T4 education’s current global community of over 200,000 teachers and digital media platform provides an engine for organisations to run education prizes that cut through in both the international media and the public consciousness.