Africa Education Medal 2023: Nigeria’s Simi Nwogugu Among Top 10 Finalists 

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Nigeria’s Simi Nwogugu, the Chief Executive Officer of JA Africa, has been named as a Top 10 finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2023.

Founded last year by T4 Education and HP in collaboration with Microsoft, the Africa Education Medal is Africa’s most prestigious education accolade.

The Africa Education Medal was established to recognise the tireless work of those who are transforming education across the continent and to celebrate the stories of those who have lit the spark of change so others will be inspired to take up the torch.

It is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.

Simi Nwogugu was first introduced to JA while working at Goldman Sachs in New York City. Impressed by the organisation, she quit her lucrative job at age 24 to bring JA to Nigeria, where it now reaches more than 100,000 young people annually, before going on to head up JA’s operations across the continent.

The vital importance of Nwogugu’s work is highlighted by the fact that 60% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa and about 37% of its workforce are under the age of 25. By 2025, Africa will be home to 25% of the world’s youth population.

Mayank Dhingra, Senior Education Business Leader, Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, at HP, said, “My warmest congratulations to Simi Nwogugu on being named a Top 10 finalist for the Africa Education Medal 2023.

“Her tireless work to improve education stands as an inspiration to us all and I hope many others will follow in her footsteps to become leaders in the field.

“HP has a bold goal to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030. Only by joining forces and aligning with NGOs, government, educators and businesses can we truly improve the education environment.

“The Africa Education Medal brings together all those who are changing the face of African education, whose vital work deserves to be celebrated.”

Vikas Pota, Founder and CEO of T4 Education, said: “Africa’s teachers and school leaders, and its leaders of governments, NGOs and businesses, all play a crucial part in unlocking the continent’s potential through quality education.

“African education stands at a crossroads in the wake of the pandemic, but if leaders from across the continent in every field can work together then they can build the lasting change needed.

“I congratulate Simi Nwogugu on her achievements in skilling up Africa’s young people and I hope her success serves as a rallying cry for changemakers to come forward and make a difference.”

The winner of the Africa Education Medal will be announced in July. Finalists will be assessed by a Jury comprising prominent individuals based on rigorous criteria.

The Top 10 finalists for the Africa Education Medal are: Mary Ashun, Principal of Ghana International School, GhanaLaura Kakon, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer of Honoris United Universities, MoroccoRogers Kamugisha, Country Director of Educate!, RwandaGrace Matlhape, CEO of SmartStart, South AfricaMary Metcalfe, former policymaker and CEO of Programme to Improve Learning Outcomes (PILO), South AfricaMartha Muhwezi, Executive Director of FAWE, UgandaJean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, Executive Director of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, RwandaSimi Nwogugu, CEO of JA Africa, NigeriaSara Ruto, Former Chief Administrative Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Education and former CEO of PAL Network, KenyaSnehar Shah, CEO of Moringa School, Kenya.

Nominations for the Africa Education Medal opened in February 2023 for individuals working to improve pre-kindergarten, K-12, vocational and university education who are either educators, school administrators, civil society leaders, public servants, government officials, political leaders, technologists, or innovators.

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