The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has honoured teachers and learners affected by the May 15, 2026 attack on a school in Oriire Local Government Area of the state, describing them as heroes in the struggle to protect education.
The union also dedicated its 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration to the victims of the attack, with a pledge to support families of slain teachers and identify with learners affected by the incident.
Speaking on Monday at the celebration held at the Islamic High School Multipurpose Hall, Orita Basorun, Ibadan, the state NUT Chairman, Comrade Hassan Ajibola Fatai, said the event was being held with mixed feelings because of the sacrifices made by teachers and learners during the attack.
Fatai said the union would recognise surviving victims with its Heroes and Heroines Award, stressing that their courage and commitment to their duties despite the incident deserved recognition.
He said, ‘We are celebrating our teachers today, but we are doing so with mixed feelings because of the unfortunate incident in Oriire. Those affected by the attack are heroes and heroines of the teachers and education struggle in Oyo State.
‘We have decided to honour the surviving victims with our Heroes and Heroines Award, while also supporting the families of teachers who lost their lives and identifying with the affected learners.’
The celebration, themed ‘Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures,’ brought together teachers, education administrators, government officials, labour leaders and other stakeholders.
The Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, said teachers remained central to any meaningful transformation of the education sector.
Adeniran said, ‘Education cannot be transformed without teachers. Their status, competence and welfare are central to the future of education.
‘Standing with teachers must go beyond ceremonial appreciation. It must include professional development, decent working conditions, teaching and learning resources, career progression, mentoring and continuous capacity building.’
He noted that the 2026 celebration marked 60 years of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, stressing that the milestone provided an opportunity to renew commitment to the teaching profession.
According to him, Oyo SUBEB would continue to collaborate with relevant authorities, teachers, communities and development partners to improve teacher quality and strengthen basic education across the state.
The SUBEB chairman also commended the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as its commitment to teachers’ welfare.
He said the government had paid outstanding leave allowances inherited from previous administrations, maintained regular payment of teachers’ salaries and abolished the six-year waiting period for teachers.
Adeniran added that the administration had also approved the upgrading of teachers on Grade Levels above GL 14.
He assured teachers that their voices would continue to feature in policy discussions aimed at improving basic education.
‘Our collective responsibility as government, education authorities, school leaders, teachers, parents and communities is to ensure that every child in Oyo State has access to a competent, motivated, supported and professionally respected teacher,’ he said.
In his address, Fatai commended Governor Makinde, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, Commissioner for Education Segun Olayiwola, Dr Adeniran, TESCOM Chairperson Mrs Olubukola Oladipo, Special Adviser on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Abiodun Tiamy, and other stakeholders for their roles in the rescue and survival efforts following the Oriire attack.
He also acknowledged the state government’s interventions in teachers’ welfare, while urging the government to sustain efforts to improve working conditions.
However, the NUT chairman presented a fresh list of demands on behalf of teachers.
Among the demands were the full implementation of the Safe School Programme, integration of 135 teachers into the TESCOM employment structure, approval of inter-local government transfers for some teachers appointed in 2005, administrative flexibility on conversion and career progression, prompt release of grants to school heads and payment of outstanding 2025 leave allowances.
Fatai also urged teachers to embrace artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, saying the changing nature of education required teachers to continuously update their skills.
He said, ‘Protecting, respecting, rewarding, empowering and investing in teachers remain essential to strengthening education and securing the future of Oyo State and Nigeria.’
A major highlight of the celebration was the presentation of the Heroes and Heroines of Teachers Award to teachers who demonstrated courage and dedication during the Oriire school attack.
The award recipients included the Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Mrs Alamu Racheal Folawe; Vice Principal, Mr Ojo Jonathan Adebayo; Mr Olatunde Olutoye Zacchaeus; Mrs Oladeji Jelilat Oluwakemi; and Mrs Daunting Mary Temitope of Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota.
The event was attended by government officials, education administrators, NUT leaders, teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector.