Thelma O. Malaka is a highly experienced educationist with an impressive background in teaching and educational administration. With a career spanning 23 successful years at the Lagos State Ministry of Education, she held various roles and retired as an Assistant Director of Education in 2004. Following her retirement, she joined the esteemed Chrisland Educational Organization as the Head of Quality Control and later served as the Principal of Chrisland College, Idimu, from June 2004 to December 2010.

In 2011, Mrs. Malaka made the decision to dedicate her talents and expertise to serving God as the first Education Secretary of Deeper Life High School (DLHS). DLHS, founded in November 2010, has 23 campuses nationwide, and Mrs. Malaka, in her role as Education Secretary, supervises and coordinates all these campuses from the headquarters in Lagos.

As an educationist, Mrs. Malaka epitomizes the values of hard work, determination, and sacrifice, reminiscent of the Christian missionary tradition. With missionary zeal and unwavering commitment, she carries out her responsibilities with exceptional dedication.

Mrs. Malaka possesses a strong educational background, having obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) from Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, from 1972 to 1975. She furthered her studies at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, where she earned her Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree from 1976 to 1979. To complement her expertise, she pursued a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree at the University of Lagos, Akoka, from 1992 to 1994.

Fueling her passion for her profession is Mrs. Malaka’s unwavering belief in the potential of every child. She advocates for every Nigerian child to have access to high-quality education and firmly believes that with the right opportunities, encouragement, and conducive learning environments, every child can thrive.

Mrs. Thelma Malaka strives for excellence in her role as a teacher and administrator, driven by her mission and vision. She is dedicated to providing the youth under her care with the confidence to trust in her support and belief in their ability to excel. When not immersed in her work, Mrs. Malaka enjoys reading, writing, and traveling, which further enrich her perspectives.

In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the field of education and national development, Mrs. Malaka has been honored with prestigious accolades, including the Woman of Merit Gold Award (2006), the Most Outstanding School Administrator of the Year Award (2019), and the Africa Education Leaders Award (2022), among others.