One Man’s Passion for Transforming Nigeria’s Education Sector With Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Key Points

• Peace Bamidele, founder of MarkWillows Foundation, has leveraged SEL to revolutionize education in Nigeria and has trained hundreds of educators, fostering improved student engagement and behavior in classrooms.
• The foundation’s key programs include the SEL Ambassadors Project, which certifies educators to embed SEL practices, and the Nigerian SEL Community, a collaborative network for continuous learning.
• Testimonials from educators highlight the profound impact of SEL on teaching practices and school culture.

When I think about the future of education in Nigeria, I am filled with hope. One powerful path to that bright future is social and emotional learning (SEL). While the SEL journey is just beginning, the potential for reshaping Nigeria’s education sector is limitless.

I have witnessed firsthand how SEL is reshaping the landscape of education in Nigeria. This work is deeply personal to me. In 2018, I left a corporate career to answer a higher calling—equipping professionals, especially educators, with contemporary skills to excel. My path led me through intense self-discovery, research, and immersion in global education trends. A pivotal realization emerged: while technology is reshaping the world, human-centric skills are becoming indispensable.

This inspired my first book, The Missing Link of Education, and the creation of the Soft Skills Academy in 2020. As I worked with educators, SEL resonated deeply with me as a parallel to soft skills, offering transformative benefits for students and teachers alike.

In 2020, I trained over 500 educators across 15 schools, emphasizing SEL competencies like self-awareness and relationship-building. Determined to make a broader impact, my wife and I co-founded MarkWillows Foundation in late 2020, launching with the National SEL Conference in 2021, which drew hundreds of educators from within and outside Nigeria.

Empowering Educators through SEL

MarkWillows Foundation has pioneered SEL integration in Nigerian schools through four main initiatives:

1. National SEL Conference
   Since 2021, this conference has been a cornerstone for advancing SEL in Nigeria. The 2024 gathering, held in March during the week of International SEL Day and themed “Leveraging SEL as a Force for Resilience,” brought together over 300 educators, parents, and professionals for virtual sessions featuring experts in education. It continues to amplify SEL conversations nationwide.

2. SEL Ambassadors Project
   Launched in April 2023, this four-week mentoring program has certified over 100 Nigerian educators. Combining CASEL resources with my 2022 book on SEL, The Learning That Matters, participants learn to embed SEL strategies in classrooms. Many have gone on to train over 400 teachers and students in their communities, creating a ripple effect of SEL impact.

3. Nigerian SEL Community
   Graduates of the Ambassadors program join a vibrant community of over 100 educators. This network shares resources, stories, and ideas to promote SEL practices across Nigeria, fostering collaboration and continuous learning.

4. Advocacy in Media, Universities, and Government
   Through speaking engagements, media advocacy, and collaborations with universities and government agencies, MarkWillows Foundation promotes SEL adoption. We also assist in drafting SEL curricula and training facilitators for schools.

Stories of Impact

The passion to make SEL an integral part of Nigerian education is bearing fruit, as evidenced by the testimonials below:

• “The SEL Ambassadors Program equipped me to foster empathetic classrooms and train over 200 teachers in Kano State. The impact of this training on student engagement and behavior has been remarkable. School administrators have expressed their appreciation for the noticeable improvements in student engagement and behavior, attributing these positive changes to the SEL principles taught and integrated into teaching practices.” – Olajide Ibrahim, Educator, Intercontinental Schools, Kano, Northwest Nigeria

• “Participating in the SEL Ambassadors Program transformed my approach to teaching. In April 2023, I trained 25 teachers at Noble Vines Schools to integrate SEL into their curriculum. We introduced “Circle Time” and “The Mind Brew” sessions, which have become an integral part of the school culture, yielding positive changes in staff and student behavior.” – Promise Umeakhalu, Education Consultant, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

• “In August 2023, the MarkWillows Foundation mentoring program on SEL reshaped my educational perspective. Following this, I partnered with Kings and Queens International School and implemented SEL workshops, empowering students and teachers alike. As an educational consultant, I have harnessed knowledge of SEL to enhance my interpersonal skills and introduce it to educators and schools within my network.” – Funmilayo Ugo Baderin, Education Consultant, Radiance Plus Educational Resource, Abuja, North Central Nigeria

A Vision for the Future

We envision embedding SEL in every classroom and school in Nigeria. Through conferences, mentoring, advocacy, and community building, we are igniting a movement that is transforming the lives of educators, students, and communities. Together, we can continue to empower educators, inspire students, and build a more resilient society through SEL.

NOTE: The 2025 National SEL Conference is scheduled to take place March 8, 2025, with the theme: All Learning is Social and Emotional. Learn more

The views in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CASEL.

Peace Bamidele is the founder of MarkWillows Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing SEL in Nigeria. He holds a B.A.Ed. in education from the University of Lagos, an M.Sc. in education management and planning from South America University, Delaware, and a Masters in public policy with a concentration in education policy from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University. A seasoned nonprofit leader, he has implemented over 40 projects, authored two books, and trained over 7,000 professionals across six sectors. To learn more about MarkWillows Foundation, please visit www.markwillowsfoundation.com.

Do you have a story of SEL in a global context? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to pitch your story idea to appear on this blog.

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• A Relationship-Fueled Learning Community: Teachers and Students in California Share the Impact of SEL
• How Can Districts Learn About SEL From Each Other? Austin and Albuquerque Lead the Way
• Community Schools: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

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