The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards, which is run by the Cambridge University Press, is an annual competition to celebrate teachers globally and their efforts in educating their pupils.

The 2023 competition — the fifth edition of the programme — received over 11,000 nominations from 99 countries, an increase of over 30 per cent from last year’s nominations, the Cambridge University Press said in a statement released last week.

CUP said, “The global competition gives students, parents and other teachers the chance to nominate a current primary or secondary teacher for something wonderful they have done. Now in its fifth year, the awards demonstrate the inspiring and positive impact of teachers across the globe and give students a platform to say, ‘thank you’.

“This year, Akeem Badru was named regional winner in Nigeria, for his achievement in “First Step Initiatives”, a STEM project where he uses craft and model making to promote inquisitiveness, creativity and critical thinking. In addition, as TeachSDG Ambassador, he financed the construction of a borehole for the village as his contribution towards the achievement of 2030 SDGs and to solve the problem of water related diseases that keep his pupils out of school.”

As a regional winner of the 2023 awards, Badru will receive £500 worth of books or digital resources, along with a Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards trophy, and promotion for him and his school. He will also feature on a thank you page at the front of new Cambridge University Press Education textbooks from February 2024.

Badru, while appreciating the Cambridge University Press honour, said the award will encourage him to work harder and also serve as motivation for other teachers in the Nigeria.

He said, “The teaching profession is a noble job, and I am glad you appreciate the important roles that teachers play in shaping the minds, characters and lives of people in society. Through First Step Initiatives, I will continue to help children build the skills that will allow them to unlock their potential.”

Matthew Walker, Publishing Director for Education at Cambridge University Press, said: “The achievements of our 2023 regional winners, plus the thousands of nominations we received for the competition, speak volumes for the value of teachers’ roles and the positive impact they have on students. We hope that this recognition will continue to inspire teachers to deliver exceptional teaching and encourage the next generation of learners to aim high in their ambitions.”