Akeem Badru wins the 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards

Akeem Badru, a primary school teacher from St Michael RCM Primary School in Ogun State, emerged regional winner of the 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards for Central and Southern Africa.

Badru won for his “First Step Initiatives,” a STEM project that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through craft and model-making. Also, as a TeachSDG Ambassador, he funded the construction of a borehole to address water-related diseases and contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring his students can attend school regularly.

He will receive £500 worth of books or digital resources, a trophy for the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards, and recognition for himself and his school. Furthermore, starting in February, he will be featured on a thank you page in new Cambridge University Press Education textbooks.

Speaking on his win, Akeem Badru said: “This award will encourage me to work harder and also serve as motivation for other teachers in the country. The teaching profession is a noble job, and I am glad you appreciate the important roles that teachers play in shaping the minds, characters and lives of people in society.”

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Matthew Walker, publishing director for education at Cambridge University Press, said: “The achievements of our 2023 regional winners, plus the thousands of nominations we received for the competition, speak volumes for the value of teachers’ roles and the positive impact they have on students. We hope that this recognition will continue to inspire teachers to deliver exceptional teaching and encourage the next generation of learners to aim high in their ambitions.”

The award, organized by Cambridge University Press, is a global competition that honours teachers worldwide. This year, the competition saw a 30 percent increase in nominations, receiving over 11,000 submissions from 99 countries compared to 2022. Now in its fifth year, the awards demonstrate the inspiring and positive impact of teachers across the globe and give students a platform to say, ‘thank you’.