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BETA 2026: Adunni Foundation Puts Children At Centre of Basic Education Reforms
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Published 10/17/2026 9:10:54 AM
Adunni Foundation Puts Children At Centre of Basic Education Reforms – THISDAYLIVE
Funmi Ogundare
The Adunni Foundation is set to convene pupils, teachers and education stakeholders to examine reforms needed to improve Nigeria’s basic education system, with a focus on learning outcomes, teachers, infrastructure, inclusion and child safety.
The 2026 Basic Education Torchbearers Awards (BETA), themed, ‘The Child at the Centre: What Must Change in Nigeria’s Basic Education?’, will hold on October 21, at Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Eric Moore Road, Surulere, Lagos,
It will recognise top-performing pupils in the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Adunni Foundation, Ms Motunrayo Alaka, said the event would provide a platform for stakeholders to move discussions on basic education challenges towards collective responsibility and practical action.
She said basic education should be assessed based on children’s learning experiences, knowledge acquisition and access to opportunities.
“Placing the child at the centre requires us to address learning outcomes, teachers, infrastructure, inclusion, safety and the responsibilities of every stakeholder. BETA 2026 offers an opportunity to move these concerns towards shared responsibility and action,” Alaka stated.
Speakers expected at the event include the Board Chairperson of The Adunni Foundation, Dr Yele Okeremi; Medical Director of Grachelle Multi-Specialty Hospital and Fertility Clinic, Dr Ede-Edokpolor Osazuwa; Managing Director of Speedmeals Culinary Ltd, Chef Tobias Igwe; and Miss Aanuoluwapo Ojewunmi of the Young Aerospace Professionals Initiative (YAPI).
Others are the Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Alaka, and Legal Consultant, Mr Aderemi Durojaiye. The Founder of CAST Public Relations, Mr Babajide Benson, will serve as compere.
The programme will also feature ‘Hope Nigeria Talks’, a platform designed to enable children to express their aspirations for education and the country they will inherit.
Another session, ‘Uniforms and Dreams: Careers That Serve Nigeria’, will connect pupils with professionals and expose them to career opportunities that education can provide.
According to Alaka, the initiative is designed to encourage children to envision their futures while helping them understand the role of education in achieving their ambitions and contributing to national development.
The maiden edition of BETA, held in 2025, honoured individuals and institutions whose contributions helped lay important foundations for basic education.
“The 2026 edition shifts attention to children and the changes required to improve their learning experiences and secure better opportunities for their future,” the founder said.
Anchored on the belief that education is independence, Alaka said BETA seeks to promote access to quality basic education and ensure that every child has the knowledge, skills and confidence to fulfil their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
“The initiative also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
She called on education stakeholders and members of the public to renew their commitment to placing children at the centre of decisions, policies and investments in basic education.
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Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
