The Murdock Thompson Center for Teachers (M-TC), USA, in collaboration with the Intellectual Giants in Africa Foundation (INGAF), Nigeria, has once again rewarded five(5) outstanding educators with a $1,000 grant each during the 2025 Summer Fellowship for Innovative Teachers (SFIT) Award and Conference.
The 2025 edition, held on Saturday at Kingsville Schools, Jahi, Abuja, brought together educators, educational policymakers, stakeholders, school owners, SFIT 2025 fellows, and their families in a celebration of excellence and innovation in teaching.
Since its establishment in 1995 and its partnership with INGAF in 2021, the Murdock Thompson Center for Teachers has awarded over 30 educators, enabling them to pursue diverse and impactful projects.
According to the founder, Peter Thompson, the goal of the grant is to support teacher-driven innovation and inspire new motivational strategies in classrooms.
Speaking at the event, the President of M-TC, William Lavin, disclosed that more than 50 applications were rigorously reviewed before the winners were selected.
He noted that the Center has had significant impact on educators not only in Africa but across the world, and encouraged more teachers to apply in the future.
Also addressing participants, prominent Nigerian educationist and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute of Non-Formal Education Practitioners (INFEP), Segun Abiri, emphasized the pivotal role of The M-TC in transforming Nigeria’s educational landscape.
Abiri described M-TC as a U.S.-based non-profit with a global outlook, focused on supporting and celebrating teacher innovation.
“The organization’s guiding philosophy is that grassroots reform, driven by individual, creative teachers, is the key to meaningful educational change.”
“The Summer Fellowship for Innovative Teachers provides financial support and a community for innovative educators to research, develop, and publish their work, ensuring that their successful methods can be replicated by others,” he said.
In his remarks, the Country Director of M-TC, Ambassador Emmanuel Idiagi, appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize teachers’ welfare.
He stressed that a well-compensated and motivated teaching workforce is critical to national development and the improvement of Nigeria’s education system.
Idiagi urged government authorities to move beyond promises and implement tangible policies that directly address the needs of educators.
“Teachers do a lot for the pupils in the classroom and their reward should not only be in heaven,” he said, calling for a shift from rhetoric that romanticizes the struggles of teachers without addressing their realities.
The 2025 edition of SFIT created a platform for educators, policymakers, and educational leaders to share best practices and discuss solutions to systemic challenges.
The event concluded with the celebration of teachers who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and dedication in their classrooms, proving that with the right support, Nigerian educators can compete on the global stage.
Murdock-Thompson Center Awards Five Nigerian Teachers with $1,000 Grant Each
