WELCOME TO THE AFRICAN FORUM FOR INNOVATIVE TEACHERS (AFFiT)
Empowering Africa’s Educators through Innovation, Recognition, and Lifelong Professional Growth
The African Forum for Innovative Teachers (AFFiT) welcomes you to a continental movement of educators, scholars, classroom teachers, and institutions united by a shared mission: to transform Africa’s education system through innovation, research, mentorship, and recognition. Whether you are a student teacher preparing for your first classroom experience, a classroom teacher actively shaping young minds, a seasoned lecturer training future educators, a respected educational policymaker, or an institutional leader transforming systems, AFFiT offers you a platform to grow, lead, and leave a legacy.
We are dedicated to transforming education by nurturing a new generation of innovative teachers and empowering the existing workforce with the tools, recognition, and networks needed to lead Africa’s educational renaissance.
We recognize that teachers are the architects of the future, and yet, too often, they are the most under-recognized. From teacher trainees to classroom professionals, from senior lecturers to education advocates and institutional decision-makers, many face outdated training, limited support, and poor professional incentives. These systemic challenges lead to low morale, brain drain, and widespread abandonment of the profession.
Through a comprehensive structure of memberships and fellowships, AFFiT addresses these challenges and positions educators as leaders of change within their communities and across the continent.
UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMMES
2026–2027 | Recognising excellence, strengthening educational leadership and advancing research and innovation across Nigeria.
2026 EVENTS
2026 • North-East
North-East Lecturer of the Year Awards 2026
Celebrating lecturers and teacher educators across the North-East for excellence in teaching, research, mentorship and educational innovation.
Date: 12 December 2026
Event date: 12 December 2026
Venue: To be announced!
Who the programme is for: Lecturers and teacher educators across tertiary institutions in the North-East region.
Programme focus: Recognition of outstanding performance in teaching, research, mentorship, academic service and educational innovation.
The North-East edition will provide a platform to celebrate educators whose professional contributions strengthen teaching quality, scholarship and the development of future educators. The programme will feature the recognition and induction of deserving educators in line with AFFiT’s commitment to professional excellence.
Use the participation form below to express your interest in the North-East Lecturer of the Year Awards.
2026 • North-West
North-West Lecturer of the Year Awards 2026
Recognising outstanding academic contributions and professional excellence among lecturers and teacher educators across the North-West.
Date: 5 December 2026
Event date: 5 December 2026
Venue: To be announced!
Who the programme is for: Lecturers and teacher educators across tertiary institutions in the North-West region.
Programme focus: Teaching excellence, research contributions, mentorship, academic service and innovation in education.
The North-West edition is designed to spotlight lecturers and teacher educators making meaningful contributions to higher education. It will recognise professional commitment, effective teaching, research engagement and leadership that support institutional and educational development.
Use the participation form below to express your interest in the North-West Lecturer of the Year Awards.
2026 • National programme
AFFiT Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Year – Induction & Award 2026
Honouring distinguished leadership, institutional contribution and excellence in the advancement of education within Faculties of Education.
Date: 3 December 2026
Event date: 3 December 2026
Venue: To be announced!
Who the programme is for: Deans of Faculties of Education and relevant academic stakeholders in tertiary institutions.
Programme focus: Academic leadership, faculty development, institutional contribution, quality assurance and advancement of teacher education.
The AFFiT Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Year – Induction & Award recognises distinguished leadership in Faculties of Education. It celebrates leaders whose vision and institutional contributions strengthen teacher preparation, academic standards, research culture and the wider education sector.
Further participation information will be made available subsequently.
2027 EVENTS & PROGRAMMES
2027 • South-West
South-West Lecturer of the Year Awards
A regional recognition programme celebrating excellence in teaching, research, mentorship and academic leadership across the South-West.
Date: 2027 – exact date to be announced
Event date: 2027 – exact date to be announced
Venue: To be announced!
Who the programme is for: Lecturers and teacher educators across tertiary institutions in the South-West.
Programme focus: Teaching, research, mentorship, academic leadership and educational innovation.
The South-West edition will extend AFFiT’s regional recognition platform to educators whose work contributes to quality teaching, research, student development and institutional progress. Further information on nominations, programme activities and participation will be published when arrangements are confirmed.
Participation and programme information will be made available subsequently.
2027 • South-South
South-South Lecturer of the Year Awards
Recognising lecturers and teacher educators whose work advances learning, scholarship, innovation and institutional development across the South-South.
Date: 2027 – exact date to be announced
Event date: 2027 – exact date to be announced
Venue: To be announced!
Who the programme is for: Lecturers and teacher educators across tertiary institutions in the South-South.
Programme focus: Teaching excellence, scholarship, mentorship, innovation and institutional development.
The South-South edition will celebrate educators whose work advances learning, research, innovation and the professional growth of students and colleagues. Details on dates, venues and participation will be released as planning progresses.
Participation and programme information will be made available subsequently.
2027 • Women in Education
AFFiT Women in Education, Research & Leadership Awards Programme
Celebrating women shaping education through academic excellence, research, innovation, leadership and meaningful contributions to their institutions and communities.
Date: 2027 – programme dates to be announced
Event date: 2027 – programme dates to be announced
Venue: To be announced!
Who the programme is for: Women educators, researchers, academic leaders and other women making significant contributions to education.
Programme focus: Women’s contributions to teaching, research, innovation, educational leadership and institutional/community impact.
The AFFiT Women in Education, Research & Leadership Awards Programme will provide a platform to recognise and promote women whose work is shaping educational practice, research, policy and leadership. Further details on award categories, eligibility, nominations and programme activities will be announced as arrangements are finalised.
Participation and programme information will be made available subsequently.
More events and programmes are in development. Additional AFFiT activities, professional development opportunities and regional engagements for 2026 and 2027 will be announced as arrangements are confirmed. Please check this page regularly for updates.
Affit Programs
AFFiT’s membership and fellowship structure forms the backbone of its ecosystem, designed to recognize excellence, develop leadership capacity, and support continuous, lifelong professional growth for educators
AFFiT delivers lifelong CPD that equips educators with 21st-century skills through training, digital learning, conferences, and certification.
AFFiT’s research and innovation programs advance practitioner-led, solution-driven studies that address real classroom, institutional, and education policy challenges.
AFFiT promotes a culture of excellence and accountability through awards and institutional benchmarking programs.
AFFiT bridges research and real-world impact by protecting and commercializing innovative research outputs and embedding researchers in industry to implement practical, scalable solutions.
Leadership development is integrated across all AFFiT programs, engaging members in mentorship, school-based innovation, community education, reading campaigns, and edupreneurship initiatives that extend impact beyond the classroom.
AFFiT integrates educator welfare into its empowerment model through health support, housing and financial schemes, agriculture‑for‑educators initiatives, green economy programs, and grants for education‑based enterprises.
AFFiT convenes high-impact events that advance learning, recognition, and collaboration, including research conferences, international educators’ forums, leadership summits, policy dialogues, and fellowship inductions.
Who we are
The African Forum for Innovative Teachers (AFFiT) is a leading network dedicated to teacher empowerment, educational innovation, and professional development across Africa. We provide leadership training, mentorship, research opportunities, and capacity-building programs that equip educators to drive transformative learning, curriculum innovation, and school-based projects. Through conferences, innovation forums, and collaborative initiatives, AFFiT connects teachers, policymakers, and thought leaders, fostering best practices, advocacy, and lasting impact on education across the continent.
Talk to us
Have any questions? We are always open to talk to you about our
community,
and how you can support what we are doing for teachers, and for the education sector.