The Bunmi Adedayo Foundation recently commemorated its 10th anniversary with a conference focused on the future of education, alongside awards honoring individuals and organizations that have supported the foundation's initiatives.
Keynote Address on STEM Education
Delivering the keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education, Dr. Adetola Salau, asserted that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) must become the driving force of Nigeria's education system to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. She emphasized that STEM is not merely a collection of subjects but a critical way of thinking required for the future. "STEM has become a way of thinking; of being curious always, experimenting, problem solving, and iterating solutions endlessly," she stated.
Dr. Salau noted that global economies are being shaped by innovation and technology, warning that Nigeria's classrooms must evolve to keep pace. "We are living in a rapidly changing world defined by technology, innovation, and constant disruption," she said, adding that "the jobs of tomorrow are evolving faster than our classrooms." She criticized the current learning model, which she said rewards "memorisation over understanding, routine over curiosity, and conformity over creativity," stressing that "this must change." She further explained that STEM education goes beyond producing scientists, aiming instead to raise a generation of thinkers.
Reflections on a Decade of Impact
The Chairman of the Executive Council of the Foundation, Professor Wọle Atoyebi, reflected on a decade of impact, stating that the foundation had strengthened schools, supported teachers, and created enabling environments for children to thrive. "From the establishment of libraries that nurture a culture of reading to ICT hubs that expand access to knowledge, and programmes that enhance teaching and learning, each initiative has contributed meaningfully to improved educational outcomes," he said.
Vision and Achievements
The Director of Strategy at the Foundation, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Adedayo, spoke about the vision behind the organization, rooted in the passion of its late founder. She noted that her husband, Bunmi Adedayo, was deeply committed to education, and the foundation's work over the past decade reflects his ideals. According to her, the foundation has reached more than 550,000 learners and empowered 7,800 teachers across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Rivers States, with a strong focus on early education as well as digital and ICT learning.
Dignitaries at the event included philanthropist Senator Daisy Danjuma, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Ọmọtọṣọ, and publisher, Mr. Dele Momodu.
