Gideon Olanrewaju

Gideon Oluwaseun Olanrewaju (born 10 July 1993) is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and educational development practitioner who created Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi), non-profit organisation that creates multiple quality informal and alternative learning systems in rural communities and has facilitated access to education for over 6,000 disadvantaged children in Nigeria.

Gideon Oluwaseun Olanrewaju
Olanrewaju in 2018
Born
Gideon Oluwaseun Olanrewaju

(1993-07-10) 10 July 1993
Nigeria.
Nationality Nigeria
CitizenshipNigeria
EducationMcGill University
University of Sussex
Ladoke Akintola University
OccupationSocial Entrepreneur/Activist
OrganizationAid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi)
Known forEducational development and technology

Education

Olanrewaju obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry from Ladoke Akintola University of Nigeria in Ogbomoso in 2015. He also holds a Masters of Arts (MA) degree in International Education and Development from the Center of International Education (CIE), University of Sussex, United Kingdom and Certificate in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Non-profit Management from African Leadership Academy, South Africa and Lagos Business School respectively.[1]

Career and activism

Olanrewaju's mission is to see a world where every child, regardless of socio-economic status or geographical location have access to quality educational opportunities in Nigeria.[2][3]

In November 2014, Olanrewaju founded Aid to Rural Education Initiative (AREAi)[4] which aim to improve learning outcomes for poor and vulnerable children from low income families and in poor communities by empowering children in these communities,[5] as a youth activist his online and offline advocacy efforts are centered around key themes of educational development such as education finance, safe youths and youth involvement in local and global education policy-making.[6][7]

He has participated and represented Nigeria at high-level meetings such as the World Education Forum in Incheon, 66th UN/DPI NGO Conference in Gyeongju,[8] 16th UNESCO Asia Conference on Quality Education in Bangkok, 14th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Nairobi, 7th UNESCO NGO Forum in Riyadh, Under-30 Young Change-makers Summit in New York, and spoke at the 1st World Youth Forum Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt and the 8th UNESCO NGO Forum in Paris.[9][10][11]

Digilearns

In July 2020 and as a response to mass school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gideon pioneered Digilearns, an emergency edtech learning intervention that delivers government-approved and contextually-relevant learning content in the form of textbook and revision materials quizzes and mini-lessons, via SMS and USSD, to basic-feature mobile phones that do not require internet connectivity. The solution attracted substantial funding to enable learning for disadvantaged children in remote communities across Nigeria, winning one of the fouty three COVID-19 emergency grants provided the Queen's Commonwealth Trust. It was awarded a One Young World Covid-19 Young Leaders Fund, supported by Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation and United Way. The low-cost technology solution is currently being used by refugees, indigent students and vulnerable children across numerous orphanages and communities across Nigeria.[12][13][1]

Honours and invitations
Gideon Olanrewaju, founder of Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi), alongside nine other young changemakers meeting with Prince Harry and Megan Markle of the British Royal Family, to discuss innovative ideas for girls education across the world in 2019.

In September 2018, Gideon was appointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Theirworld as one of the two youth representatives to the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.[14] In October 2019, as a Deloitte sponsored delegate to the One Young World Summit in London, Gideon was invited to the Windsor Castle as part of a group of ten young leaders from across the world for a roundtable discussion with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Megan Markle of the British Royal Family.[15]

Awards and recognition
  • 2017, Recipient of the United Kingdom Chevening Scholarship Award[16]
  • 2018, Nominee, Future Award Africa Award Prize for Education[17]
  • 2019, Nominee, SMS 100 25 under 25 Award, Education Category
  • 2019, Awardee, Crans Montana New Leaders of Tomorrow
  • 2019, Recipient of 100 most Influential Young Nigerians Award[18]
  • 2019, Recipient of Zenith Bank Heroes of our Time Award[19]
  • 2020, Awardee, Royal African Youth Leadership Awards

    Selected articles
    • The food entrepreneur, with eye on healthy nutrition, 2019.[20]
    • Leading the way: Utilizing a UK education to better the world, 2020.[21]
    • The power of youth in ensuring quality education for all, 2018.[22]

    References
    1. "Leading the way: Utilizing a UK education to better the world | British Council". study-uk.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    2. "The Prince of Education – Gideon Olanrewaju". learningonline.xyz. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    3. Admin. "ESD youth leaders train to become change agents". UNESCO news. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    4. Ojo, Hannah. "UN assembly: Nigerian youths call for action on global education". The Nation NG. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    5. Editor (6 June 2018). "INTERVIEW: "How we're providing access to education for marginalized children in rural communities"". African Newspage. Retrieved 6 June 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
    6. "Gideon Olanrewaju Restores Hope of Learning In Rural Communities Through AREAi". Nigerian Bulletin - Naija Trending News. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    7. Admin. "Speaker Biographies" (PDF). UN DPI/NGO Conference.
    8. "Meet the 'lazy' Nigerian youths who absolved us at CHOGM 2018". TheCable. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    9. Theirworld (6 June 2019). "What we learned about global education and the voice of young people at the UN". Theirworld. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    10. "Gideon Olanrewaju". www.globalpartnership.org. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
    11. Admin. "Lanre At UN". UN.
    12. "COVID-19 Emergency Grants Programme". www.queenscommonwealthtrust.org. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    13. "Young Leaders fund | Covid 19 the global Pandemic". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    14. Published. "Education advocate, Gideon Olanrewaju, meets British Royals". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    15. "Behold: The British royals' guest". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    16. "7 Winning Tips for Chevening Scholarship Application from Olanrewaju Gideon! | Opportunity Desk". 25 September 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    17. "TFAA Releases 2018 Nominees List". TrueNews. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    18. Akpah, Prince. "Profiles: 2019 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians". Retrieved 18 January 2021.
    19. "OD Live with Prince Gideon Olanrewaju: Accessing Career Opportunities in International Development - June 5, 2020 | Opportunity Desk". 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
    20. "You are being redirected..." businessday.ng. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
    21. "Leading the way: Utilizing a UK education to better the world | British Council". study-uk.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
    22. "The power of youth in ensuring quality education for all | Blog | Global Partnership for Education". www.globalpartnership.org. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
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