Educators and other stakeholders in the education sector gathered at Redeemers High School, Redemption City, on Saturday, October 10, 2026, for the Teachers Leadership Conference 2026, themed “Teachers as Leaders: Championing Inclusive Education.” The conference, organised by Wholistic Edu-Consult in conjunction with *Afrotherapy Initiative for Mental Health Awareness and Arts Therapy (Afrotherapy Initiative), brought together approximately 250 live participants and about 200 online viewers for conversations on inclusive education, teacher leadership, financial wellbeing, nutrition, mental health and practical skills for responding to medical emergencies.
The programme was convened by Olubunmi Odiaka, Lead Consultant at Wholistic Edu-Consult, popularly known as The Educationist, with Onyinye Odiaka serving as the host. First Insurance Brokers, Onyinye Odiaka, and Asoebi Essentials were the official sponsors of the conference. The conference reflected Wholistic Edu-Consult’s continued commitment to teacher development and educational advancement, with a focus on equipping educators to become more effective leaders and create learning environments that accommodate the diverse needs of children.
Through her work with the organisation, Odiaka has continued to champion conversations and initiatives aimed at strengthening teaching practice and supporting educators. The 2026 edition also featured a collaboration with Afrotherapy Initiative, founded by Joshua Adekunle-Levites, with Juliet Olajesu serving as co-founder. The initiative promotes mental health, emotional wellbeing and holistic health across African communities through art, music, medicine, and other creative approaches.
Its participation broadened the conference’s focus to include health awareness, caregiver wellbeing and practical emergency preparedness within educational settings. Several speakers addressed different aspects of teachers’ professional and personal development. Olufemi Ebunoluwa spoke on teachers and financial wellbeing, highlighting the importance of financial awareness and management in educators’ lives.
Ejiro-Oghene Paul addressed the mental and emotional demands of caregiving in a session titled “Who Cares for the Caregiver? A Mental Health Conversation for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Special Needs.” The session explored the pressures that parents and caregivers may experience while supporting children with special needs, including emotional exhaustion, stress, the importance of self-care and the need for appropriate support systems.
The role of nutrition in inclusive education was examined by Titilope Adeboye in her presentation, “Nourishing Every Learner: The Role of Nutrition in Inclusive Education.” The session highlighted the relevance of nutrition to children’s wellbeing and their ability to participate and thrive in learning environments. Esther Ekwueme spoke on “Creating a School Where Every Child Belongs: Building Empathy, Character and Inclusion,” focusing on the importance of empathy, positive character development and school environments where every learner feels accepted and supported.
Bamidele Achioya examined the role of leadership in inclusive education, drawing attention to the responsibility of educators to influence classroom practices and help build more inclusive school communities. These discussions were complemented by a panel session featuring Titilope Adeboye, Onyinye Odiaka, Esther Ekwueme, Bamidele Achioya and Dr Olufemi Ebunoluwa. Participants engaged with practical questions and classroom situations, exploring how teachers can respond to different learner needs and navigate challenges encountered in their work.
One of the practical highlights of the conference was a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training facilitated by Juliet Olajesu, a medical doctor and co-founder of Afrotherapy Initiative. The training introduced educators to the importance of CPR in responding to life-threatening emergencies. Given their responsibility for children’s safety during school hours, teachers can be among the first people present when a medical emergency occurs.
Equipping them with essential emergency-response knowledge can help them recognise critical situations and respond appropriately while professional medical assistance is sought. The session underscored the importance of practical health education within the school environment, extending the conversation on inclusive education beyond teaching methods to encompass the safety and wellbeing of learners.
Through the combination of presentations, interactive discussions and practical training, the conference provided educators with an opportunity to reflect on the many responsibilities associated with their profession. The sessions emphasised that championing inclusive education requires not only effective teaching and leadership, but also empathy, awareness of learners’ individual needs and a commitment to creating supportive environments for children and families.
Emphasising the importance of continuous professional development, conference convener Olubunmi Odiaka said, “To learn is to grow; growth is inevitable. If you stop learning, you stop growing; if you stop growing, you start dying. Put all you learned to use because if you do not use it, you will lose it.” The Teachers Leadership Conference 2026 was the 4th edition, and it highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing the evolving needs of educators and learners.
Through the partnership between Wholistic Edu-Consult and Afrotherapy Initiative, the conference brought together perspectives on educational leadership, inclusive learning, mental health and practical life-saving skills, reinforcing the role teachers can play in building safer, more compassionate and inclusive school communities. Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers.
She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday.
She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category.
She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.
