Dr. Gideon Abioye Oyedeji (Chief Judge KCIC Spelling Bee)
Dr. Gideon Abioye Oyedeji is a scholar, educator, and social impact leader dedicated to advancing foundational literacy and education programming in underserved communities. He holds a PhD in English with specializations in pragmatics, applied linguistics, discourse analysis, and semiotics. He has extensive research experience in university settings and a strong background in social impact initiatives focused on education.
He currently serves as a lecturer at the Air Force Institute of Technology, where he teaches Use of English, and as an e-facilitator with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). His commitment to improving education extends beyond academia into impactful fieldwork. As the co-founder and team lead of the Education for Villages and Disadvantaged People Initiative, he spearheads efforts to implement the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology in rural schools, reaching hundreds of young learners across Nigeria.
Dr. Oyedeji’s research contributions include studies on budget padding discourses, (anti)protest narratives in online media, and the effectiveness of TaRL in foundational literacy and numeracy acquisition. His recent work, The Impact of Teaching at the Right Level Methodology in Administering Foundational Skills in Kaduna North, explores the pedagogical effects of TaRL using Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Learning as a framework.
His leadership in education reform has earned him recognition as a TaRL Fellow. He has been invited to present his findings at the World Literacy Summit at Oxford University in April 2025, showcasing his efforts in foundational literacy development.
A dedicated educator, researcher, and advocate, Dr. Oyedeji remains committed to shaping education policies and practices that bridge learning gaps, particularly in marginalized communities. His future work aims to scale literacy interventions and advance research in education systems globally.
