By Amaka Iloanya
Two lecturers of Nwafor Orizu College of Education (NOCEN), Nsugbe, have been inducted as Research Fellows of the African Forum for Innovative Teachers (AFFIT), in recognition of their contributions to education and research.
The lecturers, Dr. Chinwe Mikella Nebolisa of the Department of Business Education and Dr. Chika Cordelia Menkiti of the Department of Mathematics, were inducted at the 2026 National Women in Education Awards held in Abuja on July 30.
The event attracted more than 200 female lecturers from over 50 Colleges of Education across Nigeria, who were honoured for their contributions to the education sector and inducted into the AFFIT Research Fellowship.
A major highlight of the event was AFFIT’s plan to establish a N10 billion Research Endowment Fund to support more than 1,000 high impact research projects, provide 10,000 scholarships and train 20,000 women in research, artificial intelligence, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and grant writing over the next decade.
The Director-General of AFFIT, Dr. Ogah Emmanuel, said the fund was scheduled for launch in July 2027, following consultations with prospective partners and the development of an operational framework. He said the initiative was designed to expand opportunities for women in academia and strengthen education and national development.
Representing the Lamido of Adamawa, Prof. Abbas Tahir called for a shift in Africa’s education system from producing job seekers to nurturing innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs capable of developing practical solutions to societal challenges. He urged governments, institutions and the private sector to invest more in teacher development, research and innovation.
Nebolisa described the fellowship as an encouragement to deepen her research and strengthen collaboration with women scholars across the country. “The reward for hard work has always been more work. Research opens your eyes to societal challenges and the contributions one can make. This programme will help me do that,” she said.
Menkiti identified inadequate funding as a major challenge to quality research in Nigerian tertiary institutions. “When education receives low allocation, research suffers. We need funding because today’s classrooms should produce critical and creative thinkers, not just students who pass examinations,” she said, while advocating the translation of research findings into government policies, teacher education and classroom practices.
The induction of the two lecturers highlights NOCEN’s commitment to academic excellence, research and innovation, and further underscores the College’s contribution to quality teacher education under the leadership of its Provost, Engr. Prof. Victor I. O. Ndirika.
Amaka Iloanya is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
