Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gift Esema. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gift, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?

One thing I would change in the educational system is the mindset of educators and learners.

For Educators:
I would make Educators see teaching beyond a job but as a selfless service to humanity especially in rural communities because a mind that thinks ‘service’ will do more than a mind that thinks ‘money’.

An Educator that thinks ‘service’ sees teaching as a means to add value to the next generation and he/she will go an extra mile in imparting knowledge, and this will be evident in his/her teaching technique.

To sustain quality education in the next decade and beyond, individuals that are passionate about teaching and imparting lives should be given higher consideration during recruitment processes.

For Learners:
I would make learners see education beyond a means to get a job but as a process of self-development. I will repeatedly remind learners that they are learning to become better versions of themselves and not to get a job after school. This is because I have noticed that many learners do not see education beyond a job which is not to be so because for quality education to be sustained, learners must see themselves, and their growth.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Nigerian passionate about the growth and lifestyle of young people. I believe in God and self-development at all costs because one thing I have come to realize is that self-appreciation and satisfaction come when you keep moving your life forward(self-development).

Growth is core to human existence and anyone who desires a space in the sky must be willing to learn. Learning  differentiates the past from the present and dictates the future. This is one thing I realized in my teenage days so I gave myself to learning and today it has helped me make conscious efforts to think and teach even as I stay open to learning more.

I started writing as a teenager who failed an examination but stayed strong. Back then, I wrote to encourage others to stay strong amidst their failures/challenges in life because I had a strong belief that I will overcome them. The more I wrote to people, the more my challenge seem smaller and I had the opportunity to stand and speak before people who had scaled through the stage which posed a challenge to me at the time.

I kept learning through short articles and online courses till I started a course on Educational Psychology on Alison.

This was a great eye-opener for me as I saw the problems faced in the educational sectors and many of the schools in my country. I was able to relate the course to the educational system and I was opened to things that educators ought to be doing differently. It gave a spark and I started the Educators Talk with Gift Esema where I write/ speak to Educators and Learners on how to improve their teaching techniques and learning for the students.

Aside from writing to Educators and young adults, I work with International Community Education Association (Nigeria Chapter) as a Community Educator. In this Association, we host training programs for school students in developing communities because we believe that the knowledge of community members will drive the development of community members, their families, the community, the country and the world at large.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, there is a goal driving my creative journey and that is growth.

8 years ago, I was faced with a challenge that seem difficult to overcome due to limited resources. My growth in that aspect of life was not moving at the speed it ought to but instead of getting discouraged, I encouraged myself and ensure I grew in other areas. When I saw how it feels being a better version of myself regularly, I realized that growth is core to human existence and to have a joyful life, you must be conscious of your growth.

Virtually all my written works has a pointer to being a better version of yourself (growth). I create content to get people conscious about growth and encouraged to grow.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes, a good number of essays and books has significantly impacted my thinking because one thing I do after reading a material is that, I take my time to relate it to similar topics or current events and this has helped me greatly in relearning and unlearning some of the things that I need to drop off on my your journey.

Life is indeed a learning ground that can be easily survived by those who have consciously developed their mental strength compared to those with physical strength when they believe and have the backing of God.

Feeding your mind with books, videos, essays, changes your narratives/views and when these thought patterns are deliberately applied in your dealings, you will be thankful.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gift-esema-6b4513133/
• Twitter: @Educators_Talk