The Nigerian government has promised to enhance teachers’ welfare, elevate the public perception of the teaching profession, and address other key challenges affecting educators nationwide, in a renewed effort to revamp the education sector.
The move aims to boost morale, and professional support of teachers across the country as the educators joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 World Teachers’ Day.
Olatunji Alausa, the minister of education, made this known on Tuesday, September 30, during a symposium in commemoration of World Teachers’ Day billed for Sunday, October 5, in the company of Suwaiba Ahmad, the minister of state for education. Alausa applauded Nigerian teachers, describing them as the custodians of knowledge, the builders of character, and the architects of national future.
The minister stressed that teachers remain the foundation of every profession.
‘Honestly, you have the most important and the best profession in the country. Who makes a doctor, an engineer and/or a professor? It is the teacher.
‘That is why the government is working assiduously to come up with better packages for you. Light is at the end of the tunnel,’ he said.
Besides, Alausa emphasised the need for teamwork and networking in modern teaching. ‘For too long, teaching has often been practiced in isolation. But when teachers collaborate, students are the ultimate beneficiaries. ‘They receive richer, more engaging instruction and witness firsthand the power of teamwork and shared responsibility,’ he stressed.
Moreover, he reassured teachers of the government’s support, acknowledgement, and training.
‘When you want the highest quality of education, you need a high-quality teacher. When you want a high-quality teacher, you give teachers the recognition, support, training, and the cooperation they need,’ he said. The minister commended Nigerian teachers’ global impact, stressing that anywhere in the world, when they say a Nigerian student becomes a professional, they do so well. And this, he said is the output of Nigerian teachers’ work.
‘We know we can’t pay you enough, but be proud of yourselves. On behalf of the President, I commend you for your sacrifices, your diligence, and your commitment to building our nation,’ he stated.
The global theme for the 2025 edition is ‘Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession.’
World Teachers’ Day was first proclaimed in 1994 by UNESCO in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Education International (EI), and UNICEF.
It is celebrated annually to honour teachers and highlight their vital role in shaping education and society.