By Adebayo Balqees Folayemi
Caleb Promise Owolabi, a 500-level Medical student at the University of Ibadan (UI), has been named a recipient of the 2026 Diana Award in recognition of his contributions to educational access, youth empowerment and social impact through his educational initiative, CHAMP Tutorials.
The Diana Award, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, recognises young people across the world who have demonstrated sustained commitment to social action and humanitarian work. The recognition celebrates individuals whose initiatives have contributed to positive change in their communities.
Owolabi’s recognition is linked to his work in expanding access to quality examination preparation for young Nigerians, particularly candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
His journey into educational advocacy, however, began with his personal experience as a secondary school student.
Recounting the circumstances that inspired his work, Owolabi explained that he had experienced significant gaps in academic support during his secondary education, including a lack of teachers for a considerable period and the absence of practical lessons as a science student.
Despite these challenges, he said he achieved strong results in his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and recorded an impressive performance in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including 99/100 in UTME Physics and Chemistry.
He subsequently surpassed the admission cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ibadan by more than five points.
Rather than allowing his academic achievements to mark the end of his journey, Owolabi decided to return to his former secondary school to support students who were experiencing challenges similar to those he had encountered.
“I wanted to give back. So, I went back to volunteer as a teacher in my school. I poured myself into the students, teaching for more than 10 hours daily and taking more than 6 subjects daily across 6 classes with no pay (my decision). I just wanted to help,” he said.
During his volunteer teaching period, he identified a group of students with potential and brought them together under a mentorship initiative known as the Celebrated High Achievers Mentorship Programme (CHAMP).
According to him, the initiative was designed to prepare the students for academic competitions and provide them with opportunities he could not access during his own secondary school years.
His departure from the school in October 2021, ahead of his resumption at the University of Ibadan, however, presented an opportunity to rethink the initiative’s structure.
Owolabi recalled that the students were emotional following his announcement that he would be leaving, prompting him to promise that their mentorship programme would continue through the WhatsApp group they had established.
A few days later, after further reflection, the idea developed into what is now CHAMP Tutorials.
“On November 1, 2021, the vision for CHAMP Tutorials was birthed,” he said.
Five years after its establishment, the organisation has expanded considerably. Owolabi disclosed that it has grown from three staff members and 13 students in 2021 to more than 70 staff members and over 1,000 paid students annually.
He also reported that the organisation has recorded more than 2,900 admissions into over 23 Nigerian institutions.
Beyond its admission figures, he said CHAMP Tutorials has supported more than 350 students who scored above 300 in UTME, including a candidate who recorded 371 out of 400 in the 2025 UTME.
For Owolabi, however, the initiative’s contribution extends beyond examination results and admission statistics.
He explained that its work involves developing sustainable educational systems, mobilising young people and creating opportunities for students who might otherwise have limited access to quality academic support.
The Diana Award operates through a nomination-based selection process. According to Owolabi, nominees cannot nominate themselves but must be nominated by individuals familiar with their work in a professional capacity.
He explained that nominations require supporting statements from two additional individuals who can independently validate the nominee’s contributions, alongside documentary evidence of their impact.
Eligible nominations undergo an initial assessment before being reviewed by an independent international panel of judges. Successful nominations are also subjected to further due diligence before final selection.
Reflecting on the recognition, Owolabi described receiving the 2026 Diana Award as a humbling experience, noting that it affirmed the value of the work undertaken through CHAMP Tutorials.
“Beyond the honour and recognition, it is a reminder that the work we do in CHAMP, the lives we touch, and the sacrifices we make in service of others truly matter,” he said.
The recognition adds to his previous accomplishments in the education sector. According to Owolabi, he was featured by Nigerian Tribune in 2024 after being selected among Edufest Africa’s Top 20 Exceptional Educators of the Year for his work with CHAMP Tutorials.
From an initiative established to mentor a small group of secondary school students to an organisation reaching thousands of examination candidates, Owolabi’s journey reflects the role of sustained educational intervention in widening opportunities for young people.
His recognition with the Diana Award places that work on an international platform, highlighting the contributions of young people using education to create opportunities and influence lives beyond their immediate communities.
