On the occasion of World Teachers Day, Nigeria comes together to celebrate the invaluable contributions of its educators to the nation’s development. This day is an opportunity to recognize the hard work, patience, and dedication of teachers in shaping the future of the country.
World Teachers Day, marked globally on October 5th, is a day dedicated to honoring teachers and their role in nurturing the next generation. It serves as a reminder of the fundamental importance of education in building prosperous and thriving nations.
In his message via his X account, Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, expressed his profound gratitude to teachers across Nigeria, acknowledging their pivotal role in nation-building. He emphasized that the foundation of any society’s development lies in human capital development, primarily achieved through education and the tireless efforts of teachers.
The politician applauded teachers, especially those at the basic level, for their unwavering commitment to providing quality education and instilling strong values in their students. He highlighted the recent achievement of Akeem Badru, who was awarded the prestigious 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award, as an example of the remarkable dedication exhibited by Nigerian educators.
World Teachers’ Day: Who Will Illuminate the Minds of the Next Generation?
Furthermore, Obi called on the government to prioritize and celebrate teachers who have distinguished themselves through their hard work and dedication, advocating for a shift in focus towards recognizing those contributing positively to the nation.
Reflecting on his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, Obi attributed many successes in the education sector to the commitment and dedication of teachers in the state. He reiterated the pivotal role teachers play in transforming education and ensuring that students receive quality learning experiences.
The LP presidential candidate also stressed the urgent need to revolutionize education in Nigeria by addressing the issue of the approximately 22 million out-of-school children. He advocated for increased investments in education and the hiring of more teachers to bring these children back to the classroom.
He also urged the government to prioritize teachers’ salaries, ensuring they are paid promptly. He emphasized that this is particularly crucial at the basic education level, urging the government to intervene in private and voluntary schools to guarantee equitable compensation for their teachers compared to their counterparts in public schools.
World Teachers’ Day: NTI to Launch Mandatory Teacher Internship Programme
The Full Statement
I would like to celebrate all the teachers in Nigeria today, as the global community marks World Teachers Day. I celebrate them for their commitment to the task of nation-building. It is often said that the building of great nations begins in the classrooms.
The foundation of the development of any society is human capital development which can only be achieved through education and the immeasurable contribution of teachers. So, there cannot be any true development in a society without the critical input of the educators who are our teachers. The great rigour, hard work, patience, and dedication most teachers in different schools and institutions, especially at the basic level, put into their work to ensure that their students can become the best in learning and character, deserve special acknowledgement and commendation. I have always celebrated teachers in Nigeria, whenever the opportunity comes. For example, Mr Akeem Badru, who won the 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award. I have also maintained that the government should begin to celebrate Nigerian teachers who through hard work and dedication, have distinguished themselves in many ways, rather than celebrating individuals who contribute to the challenges facing us as a nation.
The many feats we recorded in the education sector in Anambra State under my administration as the Governor would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the teachers in the State.
We need to revolutionize education in the country by aggressively reducing the present 22 million out-of-school children and bringing them back to school. This we can achieve by making more investment in education and employing more teachers.
I urge the government to take teachers’ salaries seriously and ensure that they are paid as and when due. At the basic education level, which is the most critical, governments should intervene in schools owned by private and voluntary agencies, and ensure that their teachers are paid as their counterparts in public schools. I encourage the teachers to remain resolute and patient despite the present hardship prevalent in the nation. We all look forward to better days, the dawn of the ‘New Nigeria’
Happy World Teachers’ Day. -PO