Educators urged to embrace innovation

School leaders and teachers have been urged to embrace innovation, creativity, and emotional intelligence to prepare students for the demands of a rapidly evolving world.

The charge was given at the 2026 edition of Paradigm Shift 3.0, organised by Relentless Educator Consult, held in Lagos under the theme:  “Innovate.” The two-day seminar brought together education stakeholders for cutting-edge sessions focused on future-ready teaching strategies and school leadership.

The programme was moderated by Mrs. Zoe Octavia Obazee, who introduced the host and speakers.

Founder of Relentless Educator Consult, Muolagbone Innocent, stressed that innovation in education is no longer a choice but a necessity.

“In today’s rapidly changing world, innovation is not a choice but a necessity. The future belongs to those who think innovatively, quickly and creatively,” she said.

She encouraged teachers to rethink traditional teaching approaches and adopt creative methods that make learning more engaging and effective.

When asked about the gap the initiative seeks to address in Nigeria’s education system, she noted that teachers are often undervalued both by society and by themselves.

“Society is relegating teachers, and teachers are also relegating themselves. We want to rebuild their confidence and reposition them as change makers,” she said.

According to her, Paradigm Shift is an annual programme held during the second term break to equip educators with practical tools for classroom transformation.

The first speaker, Dr. Leo Igwe, CEO of criTHINK Africa, delivered an interactive and practical session rather than a conventional lecture.

He challenged participants to rethink everyday products and identify areas for improvement, demonstrating that innovation begins with spotting faults and solving problems.

“Everything has a fault. When you find a fault and fix it, that is innovation,” he said.

He encouraged teachers not to fear criticism when introducing new ideas.

“Once you start thinking differently, people may laugh at you. Don’t be discouraged. Be creative and do things differently.”

Igwe emphasised that innovation requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to step outside conventional boundaries.

Speaking on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and school culture, education consultant Rhoda Odigboh highlighted the importance of nurturing positive teacher-student relationships.

She suggested practical strategies such as beginning classes with positive affirmations to create a supportive learning atmosphere.

“Students learn best when they feel safe, seen, and supported,” she said.

According to her, social and emotional learning improves academic performance and helps children develop confidence and resilience.

“You’re not better when you’re negative,” she noted, urging teachers to foster inclusive classrooms where mistakes are corrected constructively.

She advised schools to deliberately incorporate social and emotional learning into their timetables, stressing that teachers are responsible for all students—not just a select few.

The third speaker, Abraham Ogunkambi, CEO of Success Educational and Management Consult, focused on raising creative learners through the Montessori method.

He outlined key Montessori principles such as respect for the child, hands-on learning, freedom within limits, and creating orderly, prepared environments.

He strongly recommended the use of open-ended questions to stimulate critical thinking and creativity among learners.

“Innovation in today’s classroom means doing things differently—moving away from old methods to more engaging and creative approaches,” he said.

Ogunkambi encouraged teachers to invest in continuous self-development.

“No one can give what they don’t have. Teachers must keep improving themselves through seminars and workshops like this, because the world is changing rapidly,” he stated.

He added that creatively taught children become globally competitive and can thrive anywhere in the world.

He also urged parents to support teachers by providing learning materials and actively following up on their children’s academic progress, noting that “education begins at home.”