Nigeria’s Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa and winner of the Africa Education Medal 2023, has called on changemakers across the continent to step forward for the Africa Education Medal 2024 as nominations opened.
This prestigious award, founded by T4 Education and HP, stands as Africa’s foremost recognition in the field of education.
The Africa Education Medal recognises the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent – celebrating the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so that others will be inspired to take up the torch.
It is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.
The winner of this year’s Africa Education Medal will be given a global platform to support their work and, in recognition of the urgent need to solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis to tackle learning gaps, will be entitled to nominate a school of their choice to receive membership of T4 Education’s new Best School to Work programme – an independent, evidence-based mechanism to certify schools for their culture and help them transform their working environment to attract and retain the best teachers.
In its third year, the Africa Education Medal is the oldest of the three World Education Medals established by T4 Education and HP.
This year saw the launch of the new Asia Education Medal and Latin America Education Medal.
“Winning the Africa Education Medal 2023 was a tremendous honour that has drawn significant attention to the important work we do at JA Africa, equipping young Africans across the continent for employment and financial independence. The Africa Education Medal is a prestigious recognition, shining a spotlight on education champions in Africa,” Simi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa, said.
According to her, there are numerous changemakers on African continent pushing boundaries to shape a better future for the youth.
“To fellow inspirational leaders, I encourage you to step forward. Apply for the Africa Education Medal in 2024; let your stories inspire thousands more. Together, we can continue to transform lives through education and pave the way for a brighter African future,” she further said.
Mayank Dhingra, senior education business leader at HP said: “Despite the progress made towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, significant learning gaps persist in Africa and COVID has greatly exacerbated learning poverty. But there is hope if leaders from across the continent come together, with everyone sharing their expertise to help build a continent in which every child receives a quality education.”
Dhingra said HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces between NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment.
“The Africa Education Medal brings together the leaders who are making a real difference to African education, whose tireless work deserves to be celebrated,” Dhingra added.
Vikas Pota, founder and CEO of T4 Education, said that a good education is not only the key to unlocking the potential of Africa’s next generation but also a right.
“The Africa Education Medal honours all those who are working to make that a reality. One of the most important things we can do to improve education in Nigeria and around the world is to solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. That’s why the winner of the Africa Education Medal 2024 will not only be given a platform to advocate for their work, but the right to nominate a school to join our Best School to Work programme, enabling schools to build a culture in which education flourishes because teachers thrive,” Pota said.
The Africa Education Medal is open to individuals working to improve early childhood, K-12, vocational and university education including educators or school leaders, civil society leaders, public servants and government officials, political leaders, entrepreneurs, business leaders and technologists.
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 and championing the rights of education stakeholders.
The Top 10 finalists for the Africa Education Medal will be announced in August 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 at: africaeducationmedal.org.
Nominations close on April 30, 2024.
T4 Education believes every child everywhere deserves a good education. We are building the world’s largest community of teachers and schools to achieve this. Together. Our digital media platform provides opportunities for educators to network, collaborate, share good practices, and support each other’s efforts to improve learning and school culture. We work to amplify teachers’ voices because the world we want to see will only be built by listening to those at the heart of education.
Our global community of over 200,000 teachers and our digital media platform provides an engine for organisations to run education prizes that cut through in both the international media and the public consciousness.
HP Inc. is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most.
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