By Adesina Wahab

A non-governmental organisation, African Brands Review, ABR, has recognised outstanding alumni associations, university professors and others for their immense contributions to the education sector.

This is just as the body also stepped up its anti-bullying campaign, as students who excelled in an essay competition designed to campaign against bullying, also got different prizes at a colourful ceremony in Lagos.

The outstanding academics honoured were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation, Strategy and Administration (RISA), Caleb University, Imota, Prof. Adetutu Ajayi; Consultant Radiologist, Prof. Philip Ibinaiye; Director of the Directorate of Research Management and Innovation, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Prof. Adejuwon Adeneye and a distinguished Professor in the Institute of Education, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Babatunde Adeyemi.

For the inter-school debate, which focused on how parenting and childhood attachment influence students’ behaviour and their likelihood to bully others, Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu emerged the winner with 58 points, Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, came second with 57 points, while Grace High School, Gbagada, came third with 56 points. 

They were all given cash prizes among others.

The Chief Executive Officer of ABR, Mr Joseph Ayodele, opined that the theme: Managing Schools of Value: The Economics of Talent Management and Education Policy in Nigeria, was carefully chosen to underscore the importance of value-adding education to the society.

While he expressed satisfaction with the turnout of participants and awardees, Ayodele said it was the first time the group would honour its fellows and professors.

He disclosed that an American university would list all African assigning professors in the International Council of Chartered Professors, marking a major milestone for the initiative. 

Speaking on the African Principals Conference Initiative (APCI), Ayodele said the national campaign against bullying in schools, launched in 2019, has recorded significant progress. 

The National Week of Action Against Bullying, introduced in 2024 to compel schools to hold awareness activities, saw participation triple in its second year.

He added that many schools now buy APCI’s book on ‘ Understanding Bullying, which has contributed to a noticeable drop in incidents.

Advising alumni of schools, he charged them to also focus on improving academic outcomes, not just donating infrastructure, while urging principals to prioritise value-driven school management.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs. Victoria Peregrino,  reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening teacher quality and improving school management practices, describing talent management as a critical economic investment for Nigeria’s future.

Peregrino, who was represented by the Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics at TESCOM,  Dr. Bukunola Adunni, explained that no education system can outperform the competence of its teachers and school leaders. 

“Efficient resource use, accountability, strong teaching standards, data-driven planning and closer alignment between government policy and school-level implementation, are essential for our education system to remain responsive to the rapidly changing demands of the global economy,” she said.