Oando Foundation, an independent charity, chaired by Wale Tinubu, the Director ofOando PLC has been appointed to the judging academy of the Varkeys GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Prize. The Academy will award $1 million in November 2014 to one exceptional teacher, selected from a pool of global candidates, who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession.The Academy is made up of head-teachers, educational experts, commentators, journalists, public officials, tech entrepreneurs, company directors and scientists from the UK, the US, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Austria, Pakistan, Philippines, Netherlands, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, Japan, Nigeria, Uganda, Singapore, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India and Turkey.
The Global Teacher prize will be given to a teacher who has achieved exceptional results in student learning, and has won the respect of parents and the community through activities beyond the classroom. He/she will have provided a role model to other teachers through charity, community work or other cultural achievements, and will also have opened up access to quality education for children of all backgrounds, enabling them become 'global citizens', comfortable with peers from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The award, the equivalent of a 'Nobel Prize', will underline the importance of the teaching profession and symbolise the fact that teachers throughout the world deserve to be recognised and celebrated.
President Bill Clinton, Honorary Chairman of the Varkey GEMS Foundation, said:"Attracting the best people to teaching, developing and supporting their skills, and holding our teachers in high regard are all critically important to achieve excellence, both in teaching and learning."
The nomination of Oando Foundation on the judging academy is evidence that the Foundation's work within the education sector is recognized and presents the Foundation with another opportunity to improve the status of teachers in Nigeria.
Wale Tinubu, the Group CEO has urged Nigerians to participate and nominate teachers who they believe are hardworking and deserve to win this award as he believes it is a good opportunity to appreciate teachers in Nigeria and the great work they do. The closing date for applications will be August 31, 2014, and the winner will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum 2015 in Dubai, UAE.