Accra, Nov 29, GNA – The 57th National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) Awards, held with grandeur at its handing-over ceremony, celebrated exceptional contributions to education and leadership.
Among the night’s highlights was the recognition of Mr Daniel Aboagye popularly known as Teacher Aboagye, co-founder of APRIL STEM, as the Senior High School Teacher of the Year 2024 for his outstanding contributions to STEM education and his unparalleled commitment to shaping the future of Ghana’s youth.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Teacher Aboagye revealed that as an engineer by profession, he made an extraordinary decision to leave his job as a regional engineer in a renowned Israeli tech company to volunteer as a Senior High School teacher in Worawora, in Ghana’s Oti Region.
According to him, his journey into teaching began when he and his collaborators-Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, President of the African Chamber of Content Producers, David Adofo, CEO of Innogate Hub, and Godwin Owusu, a curriculum and pedagogy student at the
University of Education Winneba—developed an innovative STEM curriculum aimed at transforming education in Africa.
To pilot the curriculum, the team entrusted Teacher Aboagye, who selflessly committed to the project, trading his engineering career for the classroom.
Within a year of implementation, the Oti Region soared to become Ghana’s top STEM region.
Worawora Senior High School, where the curriculum was fully piloted, won the Best STEM School of the Year award at the Ministry of Education Awards.
Students who have passed through the hands of Teacher Aboagye have developed community impactful projects, and have won several STEM championships across Africa.
Teacher Aboagye, his dedication to transforming the educational sector of Africa has earned him over 18 awards, including STEM Teacher of the Year at the Ghana Leadership Awards 2023, and Most Impactful Personality of the Year at the Ghana Philanthropy Awards 2024.
However, the latest recognition by the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), which represents over 12 million students nationwide, stands out as a significant endorsement of his impact on Ghanaian education.
Accepting the award, Teacher Aboagye expressed gratitude to his exceptional team at African Progressive Research and Innovations LBG (APRIL STEM).
The organization, co-founded by Aboagye and his colleagues, is dedicated to revolutionizing education across Africa through practical STEM training, STEM kits supply, makerspaces development, curriculum development, research and innovation across Africa, and the construction of state-of-the-art STEM labs.
“This award is not just for me but for the entire APRIL STEM team. It’s a reflection of our shared vision to empower students and transform education in Africa,” Teacher Aboagye said during his acceptance speech.
He also thanked the NUGS leadership and the student body for recognizing the efforts of his team and pledged to continue advancing STEM education in Africa.
Reacting to the award, the President of the African Chamber of Content Producers, Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, stated that the 57th NUGS Awards night was a reflection of the vital role educators like Teacher Aboagye play in shaping the future.
“The journey of Teacher Aboagye from engineering to teaching exemplifies selflessness, vision, and innovation—a combination that has left an indelible mark on Ghana’s educational landscape.
APRIL STEM is here to stay because teacher Aboagye was willing to make the sacrifice, he was willing to be part of a team of change makers that will leave a lasting impact on Africa’s
educational landscape, and now I am confident that through his dedication and that of the team, APRIL STEM has become the best STEM organization in Africa”, he remarked.
The event, attended by distinguished guests, government representatives, and members of the student body, also honored other high-profile individuals and institutions, including the Minister of Education, Director General of GES, Media General, Presbyterian University, the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), among others.
The Minister of Education, who served as the special guest of honor, applauded the efforts of all award recipients, especially grassroots educators like Teacher Aboagye, whose innovations are reshaping the nation’s educational landscape.
GNA