It is in light of this that a lot of attention must be paid to teacher quality, which precedes teaching excellence, in addition to holding the key to improved learning outcomes.
For instance, quality teachers play a crucial role in improving students’ achievements and learning outcomes, as they possess the knowledge, skills, and expertise to deliver effective instruction, understand individual student needs, and provide targeted support.
Research consistently shows that students taught by effective teachers achieve higher academic performances and are more likely to succeed academically.
Besides this, quality teachers can engage students actively in the learning process, and also create a positive and stimulating classroom environment, use varied teaching strategies/instructional techniques, and incorporate interactive and hands-on activities that foster student engagement, motivation, and interest in learning, resulting in a more productive and rewarding educational experience.
Additionally, quality teachers establish positive relationships with their students, which can have a lasting impact on their overall well-being and success, even as teachers who show care, empathy, and respect towards their students create a safe and supportive environment for learning. This ultimately contributes to students’ social and emotional development, builds their self-confidence, and encourages positive behaviour.
It was for these and many other compelling reasons that the Inoyo Toro Foundation (ITF), 16 years ago, made itself available as a platform to reward teaching excellence, ensure manpower development, as well as mentoring students.
Over the years, key stakeholders have lauded the foundation’s dogged determination to enthrone teaching excellence, ensure improved learning outcomes, and set the pace in large-scale student’ mentoring. And
the last edition of the awards, the 16th in the series, more beneficiaries were added to the list. In partnership with Savannah Energy Plc, cash prize rewards were offered to 22 teachers and scholarship awards to 50 undergraduates in Akwa Ibom State.
In the 2023 edition of the foundation’s flagship event christened Savannah Energy Education and Internship Training (SEE-IT) Programme, the energy company sponsored the undergraduate scholarship programme, in which each of the 50 beneficiaries got an amount ranging between N750,000 to N1,500,000 per session.
Most of the scholarship beneficiaries are Akwa Ibom undergraduates at the University of Uyo. A few others are students of the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden; Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, David Umahi Federal University of Health Science, Ebonyi, and Bayelsa State Medical University, Yenogoa.
Apart from the teacher’s awards, which also include the Grand Mentors’ awards (for teachers who successfully mentor other teachers to become award winners in the five selected subjects), and the principals’ awards for exceptional school heads providing a conducive teaching and learning environment for teachers and students, the establishment of environmental awareness watch clubs across selected Akwa Ibom and Cross River states public secondary schools and an annual public secondary schools’ quiz competition across both states are all part of the SEE-IT programme.
Some of this year’s winners are Inyene Amos Peter of Saints’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Oku Mfang, in Abak Local Council, who emerged the 2023 Grand Mentor in the English Language, and carted home an excellence award and prize of N500, 000; Utibe Raphael Udoh of Abiakpo Community Secondary School, Ikot Ukana, Obot Akara Local Council, won the 2023 Grand Mentor Teachers’ Award in Mathematics and returned home with an excellence award and prize of N500, 000.
Other winners in the Grand Mentor Awards category who smiled home with N500,000 cash prizes were Ime Unyime Ikpe, of Etinan Institute, Etinan, for Chemistry; Emem Mfon Usanga of Unity Model College, Obongntong, Nsit Ibom Local Council, for Physics, and Idorenyin Oscar Jacob, of Community Secondary School, Afaha Obo, Ukanafun Local Council, for Biology.
With the 22 latest beneficiaries, a total of 299 teachers and eight principals from the state have so far been rewarded with cash prizes, by the foundation in the last 16 years. Also, 3, 520 teachers have been trained, over 5, 350 students mentored, and over 90 schools positively impacted through the works of the foundation.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, Pastor Eno equally lauded Savannah Energy for its patriotic service to Akwa Ibom State, adding that his administration remains committed to the holistic development of both human capacity and infrastructure of schools.
Speaking specifically about the SEE-IT programme, he described it as a strategic driver of human development, urging both organisations not to relent in their support towards the advancement of education in the state.
The Managing Director of Savannah Energy, Mr. Oladapo Durotoye, in his remarks at the awards, described the Savannah Energy Education and Internship Training (SEE-IT) as a veritable platform for building a pool of talented Akwa Ibom State students for the future.
Durotoye praised the foundation’s vision and sustained determination to give back to society has earned the trust of his organisation.
The managing director said such virtues motivated his company to partner with the foundation, and the relationship, he said, has birthed a more robust and sustained human capacity development through the SEE-IT programme.
He advised the scholarship beneficiaries to shun frivolities but utilise and sustain the scholarship through hard work as they would be periodically given opportunities for internship programmes within and outside the country.
Also lauding the partnership, which birthed the scholarship scheme was the Guest Speaker, Mr. Clement Isong Jnr, who described it as a well-thought-out scholarship scheme, and urged beneficiaries to be at their premium best.
He saluted the foundation’s staying power in sustaining the advancement of quality education in Akwa Ibom State via the search for excellence in teaching for nearly two decades despite the current harsh economic situation. The Chairman of Inoyo Toro Foundation’s Screening and Award Committee, Prof. Enobong Joshua, restated the foundation’s commitment to promoting quality education, adding that its strides in the last 16 years “have been striving to supplement to the efforts of the Akwa Ibom State Government in its educational development.”
Commenting on how the foundation has gone from its earliest objective of rewarding teaching excellence to manpower development and even health, the Advisor of Inoyo Toro Foundation, Dr. Udom Uko Inoyo said: “Our primary focus remains teaching excellence and student mentorship. However, many areas need capacity intervention, and where an appropriate assessment is made, we do not mind helping. Our young ones also need role models; we have been fortunate to enlist professionals committed to playing that role. The outcome has been phenomenal, seeing students who never considered completing secondary school, now university graduates and working.
“Health is not within our purview but with the COVID-19 pandemic when countries were scrambling to secure the safety of their citizens, we leveraged the foundation’s goodwill, working with like-minded persons and organisations like Stanbic IBTC Bank, and IJNC Ltd to procure a PCR molecular testing machine for Akwa Ibom State. So, sometimes, adjustments could be made but education is our key focus.
On the group’s most significant achievements thus far, he said, “I am always pleased with the confidence and excitement of teachers receiving awards. We know that we have restored their pride and self-esteem from what they wear, how they walk, and their general conduct. Last year was the icing on the cake, with Ephraim Inyangudoh, a public secondary school physics teacher whom we mentored, becoming a US Fulbright Teaching Excellence awardee. He spent some weeks in some American states, teaching, and now has a US government grant to transfer such knowledge at home.
“There is also an incredible impact on students lucky to have mentors, including their schools benefiting from interventions. Emmanuel Okon, a mentor, recently significantly renovated and equipped physics and chemistry laboratories for St. Mary’s Senior Science College, Ediene Abak. Lastly, our 16-year journey, with integrity, has enabled a significant partnership with Savannah Energy, which will have the activities expanded and extended to Cross River State.
The partnership with Sahara Energy shows that the foundation is ready to take things several notches higher. But how will the partnership aid in the realisation of the foundation’s immediate and long-term goals?
Inoyo responded: “We welcome Savannah Energy and any other organisation that is willing to intervene in this critical sector. Let us not pretend the rot is deep. Much more must be done. But we cannot give up.
