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Adeola Olufunke Akinsulure and Tijjani Mohammed Mukaddas have been named among the top 50 finalists for the prestigious GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026.
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The educators, selected from over 5,000 applicants across 139 countries, were recognized by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO for their transformative impact in Nigerian classrooms.
Adeola Akinsulure: Revolutionizing Biology Education
Teaching at Omole Senior Grammar School in Ikeja, Adeola Akinsulure overcame significant challenges—including low-income students, overcrowded classes, and limited technology—by reinventing biology instruction.
Using role-play, edutainment, and animated videos, she raised her students’ regional exam pass rate from 45.3% in 2021 to 99% in 2022. She has since trained over 30,000 teachers nationwide in her low-cost, creative methodologies.
Tijjani Mukaddas: Ending Nigeria’s Out-of-School Crisis
As founder of the Transit School Initiative (TSI) in Abuja, Tijjani Mukaddas developed a flexible, skills-based learning model that made his community the first in Nigeria to achieve zero out-of-school children. His approach combines academics with vocational training and has been adopted nationally, reaching more than one million vulnerable children.
A Decade of Celebrating Teaching Excellence
Now in its 10th year, the $1 million Global Teacher Prize honors educators who demonstrate outstanding contributions to the profession.
“Teachers shape minds, spark confidence, and open the doors through which young people create brighter futures,” said Sunny Varkey, founder of the prize.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General Stefania Giannini added, “If we are to build a just, inclusive and sustainable future, we must invest in teachers.”
Next Steps: From Top 50 to a Global Winner
The top 50 will be narrowed to 10 finalists, with the winner announced at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February 2026. The selection is based on teaching innovation, measurable student outcomes, community impact, and advocacy for the profession.
