Five hundred public school teachers from across Nigeria have graduated from the second phase of the MTN-SAIL Teachers Fellowship, following an intensive training programme focused on modern teaching methods, digital pedagogy and technology-assisted learning.
The graduates were drawn from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, marking another significant step in efforts to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian teachers to respond to the changing demands of education.
The fellowship is implemented by the SAIL Empowerment Foundation in partnership with MTN Foundation, Microsoft and Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB). Since its inception, the programme has trained thousands of Nigerian teachers, with the latest cohort placing increased emphasis on practical classroom application and emerging technologies.
The latest phase began with 5,000 public primary and secondary school teachers, from which 500 teachers were selected for an additional three months of intensive training based on their performance and participation.
A major feature of the 2026 cohort was the introduction of artificial intelligence into the training curriculum through Microsoft, giving participating educators formal exposure to AI-assisted teaching and responsible use of technology in the classroom.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Co-Founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, Mrs Feyisola Abiru, said the programme was built around the recognition that teachers are critical to translating education policies and innovations into meaningful outcomes for children.
She urged the graduating teachers to see the fellowship as the beginning of a longer journey of professional development rather than the end of their training.
“Between every education policy and every Nigerian child stands one person: the teacher,” she said, emphasising the importance of equipping educators with the skills required to navigate a rapidly changing education environment.
Abiru also described the teachers as “multipliers”, noting that their impact extends beyond the classrooms in which they teach. By sharing their knowledge with students and fellow educators, the graduates can help spread new approaches to teaching across Nigeria’s public education system.
The deliberate focus on public school teachers reflects the programme’s aim to strengthen the part of the education system serving the majority of Nigerian children.
The graduation ceremony, held in Lagos, brought together representatives of the participating organisations, government officials, education stakeholders and graduating teachers, with participants from across the country also joining virtually.
The MTN Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to teacher development as part of its broader investment in education and human capacity development. Executive Director of MTN Foundation, Mrs Odunayo Sanya, said the Teachers Fellowship is focused on improving the quality of primary and secondary education by strengthening teachers’ professional and digital capabilities.
The Lagos State Government also commended the initiative, describing investment in teacher development as critical to building an education system capable of preparing young people for an increasingly technology-driven world.
Five outstanding teachers from the graduating cohort were recognised for their performance and application of the training in their classrooms. The teachers received laptops from the SAIL Foundation to support their continued professional development and technology-enabled teaching.
The SAIL Empowerment Foundation also announced plans to strengthen its alumni community and provide continued opportunities for graduates to connect, learn and share their experiences beyond the fellowship.
The latest graduation reinforces a growing need for sustained investment in teachers as Nigeria works to integrate technology and new approaches to learning into its education system.
For the organisers, the ultimate measure of the fellowship will not be the number of certificates awarded, but the number of classrooms transformed and students empowered by the teachers who have gone through the programme.
