MTN SAIL Foundation recently celebrated a significant milestone with the graduation of its second cohort of teachers at MTN Plaza in Ikoyi, Lagos. What started as a vision to train 150 teachers has now expanded impressively to 10,000, reaching classrooms across all 36 states of Nigeria.
This year, 500 dedicated teachers completed the fellowship, becoming pioneers by participating in Nigeria’s first training program focused on AI-assisted teaching, developed in collaboration with Microsoft and the MTN Foundation. The format of the program emphasised digital access and remote learning, with valedictorians attending the ceremony from various states, while most graduates joined via a live online stream.
The event was not just a celebration of achievements but also highlighted important contributions from notable figures like Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Tunbosun Alake, and Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun. MTN Foundation Executive Director Odunayo Sanya also spoke at the event, alongside Mrs Feyisola Abiru, co-founder of SAIL Empowerment Foundation, who delivered a memorable address that resonated with many attendees.
Similar read: MTN SAIL Fellowship graduates 500 teachers in tech-assisted teaching; top five receive laptops
This gathering truly showcased the power of sustained investment in education and the bright future ahead for Nigerian public schooling.
From 150 teachers to 10,000: How the MTN SAIL fellowship grew into a national programme
The MTN SAIL Teachers Fellowship started in 2022 with a clear realisation: behind every education policy affecting Nigerian children, there is a vital figure, the teacher. If we empower and support these teachers, policies can truly make a difference in classrooms. However, if teachers are left without resources, no level of investment elsewhere can truly change the situation.
Initially launched in Lagos, the fellowship aimed to reach about 150 to 200 teachers. But as Sanya noted, the vision quickly expanded to something much larger.
“We don’t believe in being modest or doing small things. If we’re going to make an impact, we need to go big,” she said. Thanks to the involvement of the MTN Foundation, the program grew from its original goal of supporting 4,000 teachers by leveraging MTN’s extensive network and data resources for the participants.
In its first major phase, the fellowship successfully reached 5,000 teachers from public primary and secondary schools across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Importantly, every participant came from a public school, a deliberate decision because, as Abiru pointed out, that’s where the vast majority of Nigerian children are educated.
The second phase significantly raised the bar. Out of the 5,000 teachers who graduated from phase one, the top 10 per cent, or 500 teachers, were selected for an intensive three-month online training program that involved ongoing assessments and real classroom experience. These are the exceptional graduates being recognised today.
Overall, the fellowship has now trained around 10,000 Nigerian teachers. This year’s group also has a unique distinction. With Microsoft joining the partnership, they introduced a formal module on artificial intelligence into the curriculum, making these 500 teachers the first in Nigeria to be trained in AI-assisted teaching within a structured program.
Commissioner Alake emphasised the importance of this training. “There’s a global discussion right now about AI and education, and too often, Africa is simply discussed instead of being actively involved,” he said. “Today, 500 Nigerian teachers are part of that conversation, not as subjects, but as professionals in the field.”
He also noted a crucial point: “AI isn’t a solution for the classroom. The real change comes from inquiry-based learning. When children are encouraged to ask questions and explore, they become irreplaceable by machines. Technology can enhance what’s already there, but it’s essential to prioritise effective teaching strategies.”
Commissioner Alli-Balogun was straightforward about how the government plans to utilise the expertise of these graduates. “I want to connect with you,” he said to the teachers. “We’ll be organising train-the-trainer sessions in my schools, and I’m committed to that. The more we invest in this, the better access we’ll have to quality education.”
Five teachers honoured with laptops, and how 500 could reach 4 million students
At the ceremony, five exceptional teachers stood out among 500 graduates, recognised for their dedication during training and the positive impact they’ve already made in their classrooms. Each received a brand-new laptop from the SAIL Foundation, meant not just as a gift but as a practical tool to enhance their teaching.
“This isn’t just a parting gift; it’s a tool,” said Abiru. “Use it to continue learning and to teach even better than you did yesterday.”
The foundation has a unique perspective on what each graduating teacher embodies. The MTN Foundation Executive Director, Odunayo Sanya, introduced a term that resonated throughout the event: instead of thinking of themselves as multipliers, she urged them to see themselves as hyperscalers. “You replicate rapidly,” she explained. “As you return to your communities, remember that you are not just multiplying; you have a new role. You are hyperscalers.”
The numbers tell a powerful story. If each of the 500 teachers reaches an average of 80 students each year, this group alone could impact 400,000 Nigerian children within the next twelve months. Over a decade, that adds up to four million young Nigerians who will benefit from teachers who are more prepared and equipped than ever before.
Alake emphasised the value of trained teachers, describing them as the best investment in technology any government can make. “While an IT server manages a workload, a teacher can nurture 400 students over their career,” he said. “Each child carries what you’ve taught them into a future we are still imagining.”
The MTN Foundation has invested over N34 billion in various initiatives over 22 years, reaching 33 million people across 3,500 communities in 590 local government areas. This fellowship is part of their effort to build capacity, and Sanya highlighted that their next goal is to reach all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
The SAIL Innovation Lab and Sports Centre in Ibeju-Lekki is currently under construction and will further expand the foundation’s efforts when completed. SAIL has grown into an independently governed institution, with a board of trustees that now oversees its strategy, separate from the founders.
For the 500 teachers graduating today, some attended remotely while others travelled to Lagos. This ceremony marked the end of one journey and the start of another. With their new laptops in hand, classrooms will soon be buzzing with excited students. Across 36 states, 400,000 children are about to meet teachers who are ready to share knowledge and inspire.
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