By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
The vice-principal of Caleb British International School, Lagos, Prince Olusegun Michael Adeniyi, has been bestowed with the Outstanding Innovator of the Year award.
Adeniyi, who is also the school’s STEAM Club Foundation coordinator, was given the award at the 2023 Pearson International School Teacher awards.
According to the jury, the award is based on Adeniyi’s efforts in raising creative and critical thinkers equipped to solve real-world problems.
Adeniyi, an award-winning artist-cum-art educator, has a track record of global achievements; he was selected for the $1 million Global Teacher prize by Varkey Foundation, London, in 2021 for “placing his school on the map for artistic excellence.”
He was also shortlisted as Cambridge dedicated teacher by Cambridge University Press in 2022, he was two-time recipient of the Presidential Teachers and School Excellence awards in 2019 and 2022; two-time recipient of the Inspirational Educator Award (INSEA) by Meadow Hall Foundation, a runner-up in 2019 and leader’s category in 2023. He was an Africa Regional runner-up, International School Leader.
Adeniyi uses art to advocate for social justice, gender equality and girl-child empowerment.
Some of his projects with his students at STEAM Club, include eco-friendly reading lamp, repurposed tires, stop ocean plastic pollution and tree planting advocacy projects.
Reacting to the award, Adeniyi felt elated to emerge the global winner of the outstanding innovator of the year by Pearson, and for putting Caleb British International School on the global map again.
His words: “I am thankful to God for blessing my work. I am grateful for the support I have received from my boss cum mentor, Dr. Ola Adebigun, my wife, Olori Oyenike Adeniyi and of my colleagues, family members and friends.”
He dedicated the award to his colleagues, students and parents of Caleb British International School.