Teaching is certainly not the most desirable profession in Nigeria. However, thanks to the influx of tech, careers in education have begun to wear a new look.
Tech enthusiasts with a passion for education can marry both worlds and thrive in a fast-paced tech-driven clime. Already, we have a couple of education technology companies already existing.
In this edition of “Our Stories”, Olalekan David Abiola shares his story as a teacher in Nigeria.
(Read this too: What it’s like to work in an NGO)
A major highlight of his story for me, however, is that despite his knack for the teaching profession, Abiola juggles side jobs in tech and as an entrepreneur. While this is a necessary measure for growing income and thriving in an economy that depends on technology, teaching for him remains a career, and he’s not quitting!
We’ve spoken, but you’re a whole lot and I’d like to meet you again
I’m Olalekan David Abiola.
I drive social change and influence the world positively through inclusive and quality Education for all, Capacity Development, and Art. I am a certified and licensed teacher under the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
I currently work in a non-profit organization where we provide access to quality education to children in underserved communities. I also lead a social enterprise that creates platforms for school children to explore creativity through arts and crafts.
As a graduate of Mass Communication, I freelance as a creative designer. I’m also proficient in digital marketing and communications, storytelling for impact etc.
Literarily a teacher and more. How long have you been teaching?
Well, I’d say that I started teaching about nine years ago in a children’s church. I taught them topics in their manuals and bible stories.
During my Youth Service in 2018, I got posted to teach in a senior secondary school in Osun State, where I taught English Studies.
In 2019, I got accepted into the Teach for Nigeria Fellowship. I got deployed to teach in a school in Sagamu for two years.
What do you enjoy about your job
I enjoy that teaching gives me the platform to address the problems I have identified in society. I do this by preparing the next generation adequately for their future, shaping their mindset, and modeling the right values needed to improve society.
I also do this by influencing the community of teachers I belong to, sharing knowledge, and collaborating to execute social impact projects. I enjoy the fact that it gives me the opportunity to train other teachers on 21st-century pedagogy and innovative teaching strategies.
And what do you hate about it?
I’d say that I dislike the conditions teachers in Nigeria work. The work of a teacher is very pivotal, and there is a need for an enabling environment to be effective, but not many times do we get the right resources and environment. However, we are improvising and using the resources at our disposal.
Likewise, I dislike people’s perceptions of the teaching profession.
Why did you decide to teach instead of doing something else in tech or the corporate world?
One truth many shy away from is that teaching is the mother of all careers. It is one of the tools to drive social change and make the world a better place. I am an individual who is passionate about human development, impacting and influencing people to become a better version of themselves. Therefore, I chose to teach because it gives me the opportunity to pursue this.
Teaching and tech or business are not mutually exclusive. It doesn’t disturb one another. In fact, it gives better leverage and opportunity. The world we are in today is tech-driven, and it is crucial for every sector to incorporate this.
Personally, I have some level of proficiency in tech. I also do business. My tech experience is geared towards solving problems and improving productivity in the education space. The business part that I am involved in is also to proffer solutions to schools with regards to a classroom setting and ambiance towards improving learning outcomes.
So, I am a teacher, a “tech bro” and a businessman.
So, will you drop teaching if you get something else?
Teaching for me is a career and not a job, so I don’t see myself quitting. I am an individual who doesn’t withhold information or knowledge.
Once a teacher, always a teacher, whether in the classroom or on the field, I’d remain a teacher.
Considering the condition of teachers’ welfare in Nigeria, how do you plan to build wealth?
Well, business experts have established that no billionaire made it through salary. I have also learnt that the first step to making more money is building the capacity to give more value. The more valuable you are, the more money you make.
I am leveraging three key areas to build wealth as a teacher.
Personal Branding: I have carved a niche in the education ecosystem. I have a compelling social media account with a track record of my work in the classroom. I also have a personal website that represents my online space.
I am currently building capacity & increasing my value periodically. Beyond teaching any subject in the classroom, I am proficient at identifying unique abilities in students and prescribing relevant activities to hone these skills.
I have devised a strategy of incorporating art activities into classroom instruction to develop the domains of learning.
All of these value and track record of impact makes me stand out from other educators. I make money from cascading the training to other educators or independent bodies that need my service.
Another strategy I have learnt and leveraged to build wealth is Building and Maintaining Valuable Relationships; My Network determines my Net Worth. In the few years of my work in the classroom, this statement has proven to be very accurate. I have benefitted immensely from the communities I belong to, from paid gigs, to training opportunities, access to grants and funding, etc.
Tell me more about your Teach for Nigeria experience.
Some years ago, I was a naïve young man who had just concluded the compulsory one-year National Service (NYSC). In my head was a picture of whom I wanted to be, however, I did not know what to do to fit into that picture.
So, three years ago, I resigned from my job as a journalist/creative designer to join the Teach for Nigeria Fellowship, and this decision changed my life forever.
The journey started with a one-month intensive leadership development and teacher training. Here, I learned, unlearned, and relearned. It was at the training I understood that leadership doesn’t equal holding a position. It’s all about taking responsibility and influencing others towards a cause.
I resumed my placement school in September 2019, and the next two years were filled with challenges and proffering solutions to seemingly impossible problems. I was able to transform the academic pathway of my learners. I even documented my Teach for Nigeria Fellowship Experience.
What are your plans for growing your teaching career?
I want to continue leveraging platforms to share knowledge with the aim of helping others build capacity.
I will also continue to champion the advocacy for inclusive and quality education for all, as well as, support fellow teachers in professional development.
Can you share some of the social projects you’ve done?
Certainly. I have several of them; the Creative Kids Art Club, Feed a Family Initiative, Feed a Pupil Initiative, and Love in a bag project. In December 2020, I discovered that some of my learners come to school hungry. The lockdown had a negative effect on their family’s economic status, and I saw it as a chance to give to society.
What will you tell a young person who is just starting out and is also passionate about teaching?
To every young person who is passionate about teaching or anyone who is just starting out, I’d say, know your onions, carve a niche for yourself,
Passion is great for impact making, however, you need money to sustain yourself and your passion. Therefore, learn the business aspect of teaching. Learn how to make money and build wealth from there.
Surround yourself with like-minded people. Volunteer!
“Our Stories” seeks to share the experiences of young people with stories worth telling; From challenges and tough work situations to milestones and defiant achievements. Do you have a story to share? Contact me: Ayodeji@thecareerbuddy.com and let’s chat!