Indeed, There are big names at the forefront of positive changes being made all over the nation. But one person who has been able to cement her place as a force of positive educational change over the past couple of years by being an outspoken advocate, a leader in innovation, and a policy influencer, in person of Doc Bisi Akin-Alabi.
Doc Bisi Akin-Alabi is an educator and also the immediate past Special Adviser to the former Governor of Oyo State, on Education, Science and Technology and has over 25 years post qualification experience as an Educator, Administrator and Education consultant. Doc is someone who is passionate about creating a sustainable learning culture and access to equitable and qualitative education for all in Nigeria.
She is definitely making a mark in education development in Nigeria, touching lives, executing numerous projects on supporting countless young people to connect to their dreams through access to quality education, by sponsoring, mentoring and linking young people to credible mentors around the world.
She is a Co-founder of the Partners in Education initiatives, which facilitate International Skills Transfers and organise different youth Awareness Programmes and recruit individuals and organisations as partners to support education development and delivery of a wholesome education experience in Africa.
Plaudits heaped on the ‘The School Mother’ are not exaggerated, they are all deserved. As she was nicknamed “SchoolMother” by one grateful beneficiary who referred to her efforts in promoting students’ achievement and prepare them for global competitiveness by fostering education excellence and ensuring equal access for all.
This was one of the main goal of the OYOMESI project that earned the rusty roofed city of Ibadan to be awarded as a learning city in 2010. See links below: https://uil.unesco.org/sites/default/files/doc/lifelong-learning/cities/4th-conference/learning_cities_award_2019.pdf
This is a sign of her sublime contributions to education in Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
UNESCO Learning City Awardees 2019 as featured on the UNESCO site (see link above)
- Colombia, Medellín 8
- Denmark, Sønderborg 10
- Egypt, Aswan 12
- Greece, Heraklion 14
- Malaysia, Petaling Jaya 16
- Mexico, Santiago 18
- Nigeria, Ibadan 20
- People’s Republic of China, Chengdu 22
- Republic of Korea, Seodaemun-gu 24
- Ukraine, Melitopol 26.
In pursuit of her passion for excellence in Education and to ensure the wholesome offering to reposition education in Oyo State, she conceived and implemented the much acclaimed OYOMESI initiative which is the acronym for Oyo State Model Education System interventions, with a vision to raise competent a civil citizens.
The OYOMESi is an initiative developed by Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi, with a mission to promote students’ achievement and prepare them for global competitiveness by fostering education excellence and ensuring equal access for all.
One of those, who was inspired by the great works of doc Bisi Akin-Alabi, comprehensively posited that she should be called “The School Mother” taking a mouthwatering flashback to how that name would help create a better understanding of her noble intentions and tireless efforts to see the Nigerian youths successfully competing shoulder to shoulder with their peers from the rest of the world.
“In the 70s and 80s up to early 90s , it was a common practice for most junior students to have a senior student guardian in school who would protect the junior student from being oppressed or receiving unnecessary punishment from other seniors
The junior students also enjoyed some other privileges like regular meals and material benefits especially if the school mother or father came from a wealthy background
The idea of adopting the slogan ” school mother” is a representation of Docbcbee (as she is fondly called by her nilumerous children) selfless contribution towards wanting to ensure that the level of education and it’s infrastructure are up to standard.
The immediate public perception of a school mother is a woman who cares for a child’s welfare and safety in school which from all indication is synonymous to what docbcbee is currently promoting directly or indirectly”
The ‘School Mother’ has returned to her consultancy practice: SchoolRun Academy which she established in may 2006 as the CEO. She is also the Country Lead for.MESH (a UNESCO SDG initiative), and she is a member of CUENTA CONMIGO (Argentina Partner of UNESCO Global Compact) amongst many other roles. She pioneered and leads CUShIn (Connect, Unite, Share, Inspire), a community interest group.in the UK that promotes the wellbeing and integration of Nigerians in the UK society. She also created a group called Sisters to sisters to support the girl child in Nigeria.
Written by: Kenny Bamidele
Schoolrun.com.ng
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