Mrs. Grace Ekerete Anwana is an inclusive education specialist. In her role, she has greatly impacted the development of many children with special learning needs. She is the founder of Craigton Heights Montessori School, Lekki, Lagos, an inclusive nursery and primary school she established in 2013.

Guided by her passion for ensuring that children with special educational needs thrive within mainstream settings, she works closely with education professionals to design individualized learning plans, differentiate instruction, and cultivate nurturing environments where every child—regardless of ability—can learn, grow, and belong. Her approach is firmly rooted in creating stimulating learning spaces enriched with purposeful experiences, age-appropriate resources, and a commitment to applying the curriculum with fidelity and care.

As the SEND Lead and School Director of Craigton Heights Montessori School, a position she has held since 2019, Mrs. Anwana provides strategic leadership and supervises all aspects of school operations. She oversees compliance with internal policies and external regulations, develops and reviews learning plans for pupils with special educational needs, manages budgets and payroll, recruits and mentors staff, and ensures the safety and well-being of every learner under her care. Her leadership also encompasses curriculum oversight, staff performance evaluation, community engagement, and continuous professional development for her team—responsibilities she carries out with exceptional dedication, empathy, and professionalism.

Before assuming the role of School Director, she served as Head of School (2018–2019), where she supervised staff, vetted academic work, ensured proper implementation of individualized education plans, coordinated school events, developed term calendars, facilitated PTA activities, and strengthened curriculum compliance. Her earlier teaching journey includes roles as a Year 2 Class Teacher (2017–2018) and Nursery Teacher (2014–2017), where she designed differentiated lessons, supported children with SEN, tracked learners’ progress, fostered strong parent relationships, and built inclusive classroom environments that set the foundation for the school’s ethos of care and excellence.

Her professional journey spans sectors beyond education. Before founding Craigton Heights, she gained extensive experience in event management, business development, and engineering—roles that strengthened her organizational, analytical, and leadership capacities. These include serving as an Event Management Specialist at Hill City Concepts (2001–2011), Business Development Officer at Miden Systems Limited (2000–2001), and industrial roles at Regal Minerals Industry Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation..

Mrs. Anwana’s expertise is reinforced by impressive academic credentials. She holds a Master of Arts in Inclusive Special Education from the University of Roehampton, London (2019); a Master of Science in International Tourism Management from Glasgow Caledonian University (2013); a Diploma in Special Educational Needs from the National Open University of Nigeria (2014); and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering from Rivers State University (1998). She has also completed numerous professional development trainings, including Jolly Phonics (2014), Effective School Administration (2015), Curriculum Review and Development (2016), Early Years Screening and Assessment (2018), STEAM in Classroom (2018), and The Outstanding Primary Teacher Course (2021), among others.

Her commitment to special needs education is further evidenced by her volunteer work with Clippens School in Scotland (2012), Children’s Development Centre Lagos (2014), and Kiddie Quest Montessori School (2005), where she supported children with diverse developmental needs.

Today, as Director of Craigton Heights Montessori School, Mrs. Anwana leads a vibrant team of over 20 staff members, fostering accountability, teamwork, and compassion. Her leadership continues to shape the school’s growth, its community partnerships, and its unwavering commitment to inclusive excellence.

Mrs. Grace Ekerete Anwana remains a shining example of what visionary, child-centered leadership can achieve. Through inclusive learning, teacher empowerment, and a nurturing educational philosophy, she is transforming the lives of Nigerian children and families—one learner at a time.

It was in recognition of her accomplishments and contribution to national development in the sphere of Development, Management and Delivery of Quality Education that Mrs. Grace Ekerete Anwana was deemed worthy to be conferred with the Woman of Merit Gold Award.