SAIL Teachers Fellowship Program recently celebrated a milestone graduation, equipping 4000 teachers with innovative teaching techniques to transform Nigerian classrooms.
The program, organised through a collaboration between the SAIL Empowerment Foundation and MTN Foundation, represents a groundbreaking effort to transition educators from traditional methods to inquiry-based and digital learning strategies.
This year’s fellowship, a hybrid initiative engaging over 4,000 teachers from a pool of 15,000 applicants, culminated in intensive training sessions and certifications for 400 outstanding participants. These educators were introduced to tools like Canva, and advanced classroom management strategies designed to address the unique challenges of Nigerian classrooms.
During the graduation event in Lagos, MTN Foundation’s Executive Director, Odunayo Sanya, emphasised the Foundation’s 20-year legacy of impactful initiatives, with investments totalling over ₦30 billion across health, education, and empowerment sectors. Sanya underscored the Fellowship’s transformative role in shaping the nation’s future through teacher development.
Sanya challenged the teachers to become change-makers. “The knowledge you have gained is not for you alone. You are expected to empower other teachers and uplift your students, ensuring the impact of this training spreads beyond you.”
Senator Tokunbo Abiru, co-founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the program’s vision to empower teachers as change agents within their communities.
Abiru called for continued partnerships to expand the program’s reach and ensure its sustainability. “The Teachers’ Fellowship has grown to about 6,700 teachers thanks to the incredible support from MTN Foundation,” he said.
The event also featured the unveiling of the MTN Foundation’s legacy publication, Yellow Impact: 20 Years Stronger, a testament to two decades of impactful interventions.
As both organizations reiterated their commitment to the program, they underscored the importance of collective effort in shaping the future of education in Nigeria.
With plans to expand the program in the coming year, the MTN Foundation and SAIL Empowerment Foundation continue to inspire hope and transformation in the education sector.