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- And three Nigerian students in top 50 shortlist for $100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize
Two Nigerian teachers have been named in the top 50 shortlist for US $1 million global teacher prize 2021 and three Nigerian students have also been named in the top 50 shortlist for $100,000 chegg.org global student prize
Olusegun Adeniyi, who teaches art at Caleb British International School, Lagos, Nigeria, and Adeola Adefemi, who teaches English language at Oke-Odo Senior High School, Lagos, Nigeria, have made it to the top 50 shortlist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2021 in partnership with UNESCO.
Meanwhile, Oluwadamilola Akintewe, a 22-year-old student at Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo, Nigeria; Blessing Akpan, a 23-year-old student at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigera; and Esther Ajari, a 22-year-old student at the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo, Nigeria, have been included in the top 50 shortlist for its new sister award, the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2021.
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Olusegun and Adeola, shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize 2021, were selected from over 8,000 nominations and applications from 121 countries around the world. Blessing and Esther, shortlisted for the Global Student Prize 2021, were selected from over 3,500 nominations and applications from 94 countries around the world.
Now in its seventh year, the US$1 million Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind, while the Global Student Prize, which is in its inaugural year, will see the winning student receive $100,000.
Olusegun and Adeola, shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize 2021, were selected from over 8,000 nominations and applications from 121 countries around the world. Blessing and Esther, shortlisted for the Global Student Prize 2021, were selected from over 3,500 nominations and applications from 94 countries around the world.
The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognise 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.
The Varkey Foundation launched the Chegg.org Global Student Prize earlier this year to create a powerful new platform to highlight the efforts of extraordinary students throughout the world that are making a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond. The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills programme. Part time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the prize.
Together, the Global Teacher Prize and the Global Student Prize will tell inspirational stories from both sides of education. The prizes will shine a spotlight on the great work teachers do in preparing young people for the future and the amazing promise the brightest students are showing in their learning and far beyond.
“Congratulations to Olusegun, Adeola, Oluwadamilola, Blessing and Esther for reaching the final 50. Their stories clearly highlight the importance of education in tackling the great challenges ahead – from climate change to growing inequality to global pandemics. It is only by prioritising education that we can safeguard all our tomorrows. Education is the key to facing the future with confidence,” said Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation.
“In this age of COVID, students like Oluwadamilola, Blessing and Esther have shown great courage to keep studying and keep fighting for a better future despite huge obstacles. The Global Student Prize has been launched to shine a light on their stories and listen to their voices. After all, it is their dreams, their insights and their creativity that will help solve some of the greatest questions humanity has ever faced,” said Lila Thomas, Head of Chegg.org. Chegg.org is a supporter of the Global Teacher Prize and has partnered with the Varkey Foundation to create the new Global Student Prize.
She added: “Our finalists this year have a made a huge impact in areas from the environment to equality and justice, from health and wellbeing to education and skills, from youth empowerment to ending poverty.
“We were so inspired by the achievements of these extraordinary students throughout the world that applied for the inaugural Global Student Prize that Chegg chose to double the value of the prize to $100,000.”
