On 5th October, 2020, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun presented Mr. Kayode Abayomi Adewale with Award as the Best Senior Secondary School Teacher in Ogun State.
Below, Mr. Adewale recounts his experience as a Teacher and his journey to winning the Award.
My Story:
I am Kayode Abayomi Adewale, a teacher at Odua Comprehensive High School, Imoru-Ijebu. I teach Mathematics. I am a Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert, Microsoft Certified Educator(MCE) and a Go-Ga master trainer. I am also a master trainer in Microsoft Team and its classroom usage.
I attended Imososi Methodist Primary School, Ago Iwoye, Abobi Comprehensive High School, Ago Iwoye, Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Ijebu Ode and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), for Primary School Leaving Certificate, Secondary School Certificate, National Certificate in Education (NCE), First and Masters Degrees respectively. I was given Ph.D admission at University of Ibadan to study Education Evaluation but could not meet up with the financial obligation.
TASUED also offered me Ph.D, which is being sponsored by Crownbirth Limited, an Innovative Technology company that designs, develops and offers Technology-Assisted Academic Management System for Basic Schools (TAMS), and integrated cloud based school management system that helps school administrators to gain better insight into the management of schools and give teachers, students and parents the platform to interact on teaching and learning activities. The company is located at Ijebu Ife, Ogun State.
As a Go Ga master trainer, I have been at the forefront of engaging Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in Nigeria through Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) and GoLabz Goes Africa Community (Go-Ga). GO-GA is a platform designed to improve students' participation and outcome in STEM by adapting the successful GO-LAB Ecosystem (consisting of GoLabz.eu and Graasp.eu), deploying, engaging digital STEM content and developing the capacity of teachers in modern and effective teaching methods. The platform was brought to Nigeria in 2018 and I was fortunate to be among the first 35 educators in Nigeria to be trained as a master trainer and I won 30 laptops for my school through that efforts. Due to my activities over there, Dr. Adefunke Ekine (Deputy Director, Research and External Relations at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Nigeria) noticed these activities at strengthening STEM education in Nigeria and recommended me to Crownbirth Limited. The body took up interest in me and decided to sponsor my Ph.D programme.
I joined the teaching profession in 2006 as a primary school teacher under the Federal Teacher Scheme (FTS) and I was posted to Iwopin Pulp and Paper Company (IPPC) Primary School, Iwopin, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the State. I enjoy teaching profession because of my passion for the job. My philosophy as a teacher is to contribute to and be at the forefront of transforming education in Nigeria through the 21st century skills. I transferred my service to secondary school in order to be better fulfilled in the realization of that objective. I was transferred to Ayede Comprehensive High School in the same Ogun Waterside. I left Ayede Comprehensive High School for Odu’a Comprehensive High School, Imoru-Ijebu. It is this skill of transforming education through 21st century skills that gives me edge over my contemporaries. I see and take the teaching profession as a call to service. Teaching profession is not something one can take like a vocation. As a teacher, one needs to see it as a call and put one’s strength into it. In view of this, I started acquiring skills that will not make me be found wanting in the discharge of my duties. As a Mathematics teacher, every parent wishes to be my neighbour because of the peculiarity of the subject. So, I put in a 21st century skill within my own concept in order to reach out to the students.
I would prepare my lesson content with power point and use screen recording application to speak to the content. Then, I would upload it on my Youtube channel. This is then shared through the link for the students to access. They do also make use of some social media accounts that I have; like my account on Facebook, twitter and sometimes through whatsapp number. To God be the glory. With this, I have a one-on-one interaction with the students. I have over a hundred subscribers on my Youtube channel. In view of my involvement in Go-Ga projects, I was privileged to be selected as one of the first set of teachers for OgunDigiclass during the lockdown. Ogundigiclass is an Initiative of Ogun State Government to provide digital education to students in primary and secondary schools and a first of its kind in Nigeria to feature experienced Ogun State educators in primary and secondary schools with 21st century innovative teaching and learning process.
After producing a video content which was transmitted for students on the state owned television (OGTV), I felt the need to compliment the state government’s efforts. This is as a result of some disadvantaged students who do not have access to the class as a result of power failure and some parents who have challenges of subscribing to some channels. For this reason, anytime I got back home, my mind would go to those students who were marginalized by circumstances. I decided to assist them by producing their version.
I got connected with GoLabz Goes African through a training facilitated by Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2018. It started when three teachers were selected from each local government across the state for the training at Tai Solarin University of Education. I was privileged to be among the three teachers selected in Odogbolu Local Government where I teach. Over there, we were introduced to what we call the Inquiry Learning Space (ILS). This is a GO-LAB Ecosystem (consisting of GoLabz.eu and Graasp.eu) where students can do practical things online. It is a platform where teachers can engage students. Sometimes when we produce this, we need some videos that could guide some of our students particularly since teachers would not be there when they are watching. The opportunity of the Ogundigiclass opened to me through our Vice Principal, Mrs Igbokoyi Adeola, who was the state Vice Chairman of Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN). It was more or less an eye opener to me. We did some things for the students which the students enjoyed even in the absence of the teacher, and that is something beyond the four walls of the classroom.
I am also into sports as a coach. I combine the psychomotor domain with the cognitive.
The cognitive involves the development of our students mental skills while the psychomotor is the physical movement, coordination and use of the motor skills areas. In the area of sports, I train students to win the principal’s cup at the local level and I was among the thirty (30) teachers that prepared over 1000 students for calisthenics display during the Ogun State at 40 years that took place at MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit in 2016. In my school, I am the sports master and the registrar of the school. The registrar at the secondary School level is someone that is in charge of registering students and monitoring the record of the school with the Ministry of Education. When it is time for registration for SSCE, the registrar is the one in charge.
My relationship with the community where I work is cordial. During the Ogundigiclass assessment, Mr. Sanusi L.O (a senior teacher from our school) and myself organized our SS3 and JSS 3 students in the community to participate in the assessment. As a result of the relationship I had with the community, I got the permission from Kabiyesi to gather SS3 and JSS3 students to participate in the Ogundigiclass assessment. It takes someone that sees the profession as a call to go that extra mile to do something of such.
When people were having problem connecting the Ogundigiclass assessment, I produced a video that could guide students on how to access it. Over 1,700 students viewed the video within three hours. For someone to be a sports master, one needs to have a strong relationship with the principal because it is not easy to take students out of the school. He needs to be trustworthy before the principal can entrust children of that age with him. My relationship with the school management is also strong. This is shown in the appointment as a registrar and liaison officer between the school and the Ministry of Education. I also enjoy good relationship with colleagues. For instance, I made use of computer any time I have technologically inclined programme, despite the fact that I am a mathematics teacher and not computer teacher. Anytime I have innovative idea, I share with my colleagues. Such innovations are put on my social media account. The teachers usually embraced such ideas brought to the school.
Recently, the Computer Teachers Association of Nigeria (CTAN) held their maiden conference in Ijebu and I was among the teachers that coordinated the training and quiz for teachers and students. I was honored by the association as CTAN Ambassador along with my mentors Mr. Olalekan Adeeko (2020, African Union Continental Teacher) and Mr. Ayodele Odegbola (2020 Overall Best Teacher in Ogun State and winner, 2018 Top 50 Teachers in the World for Global Teacher Prize Award) .
The process of being declared as the Best Senior Secondary School Teacher in Ogun State started in October 2019. I have been contacting people on this. While deliberating on the process, some people were of the opinion that the whole process is based on politics. I did not share this opinion and I made up my mind to participate. I went to the Zonal Education office at Odogbolu and I asked the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) about the process. She educated me about the award and I told her that I would be interested. I have been familiar with the Zonal Education office as I was usually invited to help them in some office works that were technologically inclined. Though, the ZEO was a bit apprehensive because of the financial implication but I was adamant. She then said my principal would have to recommend me as the best teacher in my school from where I would be presented to the zone.
When the application got to the zone, I was asked to compile my profile; I gathered all those things I had done that made me feel the best at the Zonal level which I submitted at the Ministry of Education with the help of my principal, Mrs Odedeyi O.T.
The Zonal Education Officer went through all those selected across the local government and all the submissions were then screened. From there, I was selected as the best teacher in Odogbolu Local Government in the senior secondary category. Then, we were called at the divisional level. At Ijebu Division, we had six local government areas namely Odogbolu, Ijebu Ode, Ijebu East, Ijebu North, Ijebu North East and Ogun Waterside. Six of us were invited to Ijebu Ode and we were called one after the other for the screening in order to convince the panel that we were fit to be called the best in Ijebu Division.
The next stage of the screening took place at Abeokuta where four of us who emerged the best in each division participated. Before that final stage, I had shared my profile with Mr. Olasunkanmi Opeifa (Top 10 teacher in the World for Global Teacher Prize winner) who returned a word of encouragement that only the likes of Mr. Olalekan Adeeko and Mr. Ayodele Odegbola could possibly beat my record. However, when I got there, I met Mr. Odegbola among those to be screened. So, I was a bit afraid going by the pedigree of the man. Perhaps, Mr. Odegbola himself noticed my state of apprehension and he assured me that he had only come for the junior category.
Another area was the aspect of punctuality as I was the first to arrive at the venue. The programme was supposed to start by 9:00am and the officer teased me concerning my earliest arrival but I needed to prepare myself psychologically. When the time came, I saw people coming with ‘Bagco’ bags of awards whereas I only had two. The two awards were Phenomenal Digital Teacher of the month of July 2020 by ONE TEACHER, ONE TOPIC, a platform organized by Mr. Olasunkanmi Opeifa for innovative educators in Nigeria, now Teacherx and also Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts which I had as an International recognition as a Microsoft Innovative Educator. As I was wondering, someone told me not to bother; that awards would not take more than 5 marks.
I went in to see the panelists who asked me to introduce myself and I did. They also asked to explain in five minutes a serious problem I had solved as teacher. I answered that I had been able to use 21st century skills to reach out to my students who are financially and socially disadvantaged. Once I produce the video content, I would upload on youtube and also share the link with them. We even have some parents that are joining the platform for their children. As I am talking to you now, I have over 200 students on my platform. I would share the video of the content on that platform with them. After watching the video, they would ask questions and I would reply them through the platform. I attended to over 40 to 50 students on daily basis.
I also organized quiz competition for students every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week online.
I used the 21st century skill to engage and evaluate them just to know their strength on a particular topic. Once I am satisfied that over 70% of them got 80% and above on a particular topic, I would move to another topic.
I shared all the skills with other teachers and trained them also.
After my narratives, the panelists were surprised. A member confirmed my story immediately and they all started praising me. It was at this stage that I was already sensing victory. The chairman of the panel demanded the soft copy of my profile which was transmitted immediately.
The following day, I received a call from the Ministry of Education that I had emerged the Best Senior Secondary School Teacher in the state to represent Ogun State in Abuja for 2020 President Teachers Award.
To the glory of God, I got my own reward as a teacher on 5th October, 2020 when the governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, gave us that honour. The award was backed up with a sum of N2.5 million.
I am married with two kids. To the glory of God, my first child has developed interest in Mathematics as she came first in the examinations she had taken part so far. My wife, Mrs. Rachael Temitope Adewale has been a very wonderful wife that a teacher like myself can have.
I was an average student in secondary school. I had an encounter with an undergraduate student who mocked me that it appeared that my parents were wasting their resources on me. He said they made a big mistake, that they should have used the money to buy paint to paint our house. These words changed my life and I was determined that I would succeed in order to tell this man that the money spent on me was not a waste.
To God be the Glory. Today, my parents are proud of me. The whole of Odogbolu Local Government where I work is proud of me. The whole of Ago Iwoye where I was born is proud of me.
I have got a lot of commendation letters from; the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Abeokuta; Office of Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary and Secondary Education; Co-Creation Hub(CcHUB), Lagos, Nigeria; State ASUSS; Teaching Service Commission Odogbolu Local Government; ASUSS Odogbolu branch.
My interest in Mathematics started with encouragement from some of my uncles such as Mr. Soneye, Mr. Ashiru Korede, Uncle Siji, and Uncle Abayomi. They started training me from SS2. Mr. Soneye used 6 months to teach me Further Mathematics with Further Mathematics project 1 to 3 by Tuttuh-Adegun and others. What increased my interest in Mathematics was a practical oriented method adopted by a teacher under Alhaji Kareem. The teacher exposed us to a series of test where I got the highest scores. The scores I got resulted into a kind of argument that probably I had got involved in malpractice. I implored the teacher to give me the same question under strict supervision. The results again showed the same grade and this earned me respect from the teacher and my class mates. I led Mathematics in my set in 2001. So, I was encouraged to go and study Mathematics/Economics. I cherish mentoring because one has to be servant before one becomes a master.
I appreciate Almighty God for the honour bestowed on me as the Best Teacher in Senior Secondary School in Ogun State 2020. On this, I give God all the glory for calling out my name for the special favour.
Special thanks to our amiable Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (MFR) for honouring me as the Ogun State 2020 Best Teacher Senior Secondary School. His Excellency has shown us that the reward of teachers is not only in heaven but should also be here on earth. In the same vein, special thanks to Prof. Arigbabu Adelaja Abayomi (FMAN), the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. Our wonderful “Mummy SA,” Mrs Ronke Soyombo, the Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Primary and Secondary Education for standing behind us and believing in our abilities to deliver during the Ogundigiclass programme. I must also express sincere appreciation to the staff of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, beginning from the Permanent Secretary to all the Directors and Mrs Abosede Odulesi, the Zonal Education Officer of Odogbolu Local Government. Likewise, the staff of Teaching Service Commission, from the Chairman, Permanent Secretary to all the Directors of the Commission and our wonderful Zonal Secretary, Mr. Ojo are highly appreciated.
Moreover, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Ogun State chapter, ably led by Dr. Ayodele Womiloju is appreciated. I extend the same gesture to the staff of the Office of Principal General, Ijebu Division. Ogun State ASUSS, under the Chairmanship of our wonderful comrade, Com. Alhaji Akeem Lasisi who has laid a good foundation for other unionists to follow is warmly appreciated. Mrs Osunsanya who believed in my ability when all hope was lost to get employed by Teaching Service Commission in 2009. I am happy she is still alive to witness the success of the efforts she put in then. I must also appreciate the likes of Mrs Alebiosu whom Almighty God has been using for me as my TSC Mum, Mrs Aroyewun (former TSC Secretary, Odogbolu). I also appreciate the staff of Odu'a Comprehensive High School, Imoru-Ijebu, most especially our Principal, Mrs. Odedeyi O.T. As a bird does not fly with one wing, I must specially appreciate Ven.(Prof). O.O. Odedeyi the second wing with which our amiable principal flies.
Furthermore, the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN), led by outgoing Chairman, Mr. Jospeh Bankole is appreciated. In the same way, special thanks to the incoming Chairman, Mrs Igbokoyi Adeola. I also appreciate the Computer Teachers Association of Nigeria(CTAN), Association of Behavioural Research Analysts and Psychometricians (AB-ReAP), Ogun State, ASUSS Press Crew, OGTV crew, all Virtual learning teachers in Ogun State, Sports Masters Associations, TASCE 2004, Teacher X (family of champions), my past and present students (Primary and Secondary) and all my well wishers.
My appreciation further goes to all my friends, family members, my parents especially my mum. She is the greatest gift of life for me. I owe her everything and I want to continue making her proud of me. I love you mum. I appreciate my late grandmother in the same way, Madam Oyinade Adewale Bamiro and my spiritual fathers. Then, every member of our church is equally appreciated. Again, sons and daughters of Ago Iwoye from HRH Oba Abdul-Razaq Adesina Adenugba (Okokodana Meji II, Ekun Erigba), Ago-Iwoye Central Development Council (ACDC), most especially, Otunba Ayobade Obajimi, NPOM, DSA, Abobi Comprehensive High School Old Students Association are equally appreciated. I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to Imoru-Ijebu community beginning from Oba (Engineer) Munirudeen Adeposi Bashorun (Alayo I), Prof. Abeke Adesanya and all other sons and daughters of Imoru-Ijebu. The staff of Crownbirth limited, Co-creation Hub (Cchub), all NAPPS members in Ogun State are all appreciated.
I equally express sincere appreciation to all my teachers at Imososi Methodist Primary School, Ago Iwoye. Abobi Comprehensive High School, Ago Iwoye. My lecturers at Tai Solarin College of Education, Ijagun and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.
Now, to all and sundry who one way or the other contributed towards the success of the journey so far, I equally appreciate you.
Congratulations sir. More and more to come.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you once again. This is just the beginning
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