Peace Sule 

Peace became a teacher due to her conviction that ignorance is the greatest obstacle to progress. In 2013, driven by a burning desire to make a positive impact and transform lives, she began to pursue an educational career. She firmly believed that through teaching, mentoring, research and community service, she could empower individuals with the right knowledge, skills, and attitudes – enabling them to achieve economic independence and make valuable contributions to society.  

After training at the Federal College of Education Asaba (where she graduated with Distinction), and earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the University of Lagos in 2010, Peace became a secondary school teacher in 2013. As a classroom teacher, she has contributed significantly to the attainment of educational goals through innovation, unique instructional methodologies, creativity, sacrifice, and selfless service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she took the initiative to introduce digital teaching and learning programs in her school. With the permission of the school principal, she personally reached out to parents, obtained their phone contacts, and guided them on using platforms such as WhatsApp and Zoom for remote learning. Determined to ensure that all students had an equal chance to learn, she requested parents’ assistance to facilitate group learning opportunities for students whose parents didn't have phones. She also conducted pro bono training on utilising digital platforms for teachers in her school – a programme that was eventually expanded to other schools in Lagos.  

Outside the classroom, Peace has personally conducted adult and literacy education programs to address the educational needs of individuals who have not received formal schooling. Realising that some secondary school dropouts and adults who had missed out on formal education felt ashamed or were too occupied to enrol in traditional schools, she devised a solution. She gathered them after school hours and provided lessons on essential reading, writing, and basic arithmetic for their daily lives. To fund this activity, she made personal contributions by setting aside a portion of her monthly salary into a dedicated charity account.  

Peace’s efforts have been acknowledged through letters of commendation, recognition and appreciation from students, school principals and education authorities over the course of her ten-year teaching career. Since 2013, she has consistently been recognised as the "Best Teacher" or "Most Resourceful Teacher" under the guidance of ten different principals across various schools. This consistent recognition highlights the impact she has made. In 2015, Peace earned a master’s degree in education, followed by a PhD in 2020. If she wins the Global Teacher Prize, Peace has three dreams. First, she plans to establish a pioneering Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Institute in Africa; second, she wants to create a floating school to ensure uninterrupted access to education in flood-prone areas; third, she aspires to establish a vocational institute that nurtures students' talents across various disciplines including acting, music, the creative arts, dance, and fashion design.