The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have strengthened Nigeria’s presence on the global education stage by supporting renowned educator, Dr. Kayode Adewale, to participate in two major international education conferences in Botswana and South Africa.

Adewale, a Top 50 finalist for the 2025 Global Teacher Prize, Ogun State Education Ambassador and Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Fellow, represented Nigeria at the 13th Conference and 15th Roundtable of the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) in Gaborone, Botswana. He also served as a speaker and panellist at the 9th Biennial World Conference of the International Forum of Teacher Regulatory Authorities (IFTRA) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Education stakeholders described his participation as further evidence of the growing global recognition of Nigerian teachers and their contributions to educational development.

His participation at the Botswana conference followed his nomination and sponsorship by the TRCN under the leadership of its Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr. Ronke Soyombo.

Adewale joined the Nigerian delegation led by Soyombo, alongside the Acting Director of Compliance and Enforcement, Dr. Mary Ogbene Abah, and the Acting Director of Accreditation, Regulation and Teacher Development, Dr. Frances Alimigbe.

The conference brought together ministers of education, teacher regulatory authorities, policymakers, researchers and education experts from more than 24 African countries to deliberate on teacher regulation, digital transformation, educational leadership, teacher welfare, quality assurance and professional standards.

During the conference, Adewale contributed to discussions on educational innovation, teacher professionalism and digital learning, while highlighting strategies for strengthening education systems across Africa.

Following the conference, he submitted a professional report to the TRCN titled “Nothing for Teachers Without Teachers”: Professional Report and Key Takeaways from the AFTRA 13th Conference and 15th Roundtable, outlining recommendations on teacher professionalism, digital transformation, school leadership certification, teacher welfare, mentorship and continuous professional development.

Describing the opportunity as a defining moment in his career, Adewale expressed gratitude to Soyombo for the confidence reposed in him, noting that the experience had reinforced his commitment to advancing educational innovation and teacher professionalism in Nigeria and across Africa.

His outstanding participation at the Botswana conference subsequently earned him an invitation to serve as a speaker and panellist at the IFTRA World Conference in Johannesburg.

Recognising the importance of Nigeria’s representation at the event, the TRCN sought the support of the NUT, led by its National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, which provided financial sponsorship for Adewale’s participation.

Stakeholders described the collaboration between the two organisations as a demonstration of institutional partnership in promoting teacher excellence and expanding Nigeria’s influence in global education.

One of the highlights of the South Africa conference was a high-level panel session on “Teachers and Quality Foundational Learning,” where Adewale represented Nigeria alongside education leaders from South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ghana and Scotland.

Moderated by Soyombo, the session explored strategies for improving foundational learning through effective teacher regulation and professional development.

During the discussion, Adewale shared Nigeria’s experience in multilingual education, drawing on his innovation of teaching Mathematics in the Ijebu language while integrating digital technology to improve learning outcomes.

He advocated stronger teacher preparation in bilingual and multilingual pedagogies, structured language transition frameworks, continuous professional development and greater integration of technology in classrooms.

“Language should be a bridge, not a barrier. Our responsibility as educators is to ensure that every child can learn in a language they understand while also acquiring the language skills needed to succeed in a global society,” he said.

After the conference, Adewale presented a letter of appreciation to the NUT National President, thanking the union for its financial support, which he said enabled him to adequately prepare for the conference and confidently represent Nigeria on the global stage.

He described the gesture as a reflection of the union’s commitment to recognising and investing in teachers who continue to project the image of the profession beyond Nigeria.

Education experts said Adewale’s participation at both conferences underscored the importance of sustained investment in teachers and stronger collaboration among education institutions.

According to them, while the TRCN provided the professional platform, nomination and sponsorship for the Botswana conference, the NUT complemented the effort by supporting his participation in South Africa, creating a model for advancing teacher development and strengthening Nigeria’s voice in international education policy discussions.