Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Education, on Sunday joined the rest of the world to mark the 2025 World Teachers’ Day, reaffirming its commitment to improving teachers’ welfare and rewarding excellence across the sector.
At the national celebration held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, was named 2025 Education Governor of the Year for his administration’s outstanding contributions to the education sector. Governor Radda was recognised for recruiting 7,325 new teachers, implementing a ₦70,000 minimum wage for teachers, and bridging manpower gaps across Katsina’s schools.
Other state governors honoured included Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State for implementing 100 percent salary payment for teachers, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State for his reforms in education, and Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State for employing 5,000 teachers and constructing model schools in all 21 local government areas.
Outstanding Teachers and Schools Rewarded
Several teachers and schools also received awards under the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards.
Among the top honourees were:
Best Teacher (National) – Solanke Francis Taiwo, Ansar-Udeen Main School, Kemta-Abeokuta (received a car).
Best School (Public) – Woliwo Primary School, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Best School Leader – Odenike Fausat Mobolaji, Elepe Community Junior High School, Ikorodu, Lagos (₦3.5 million).
Best Public-Private School Teacher – Emmanuel Ozor Charles, Greater Tomorrow International College, Ondo (₦3.5 million).
Best Junior School Teacher – Fayomi Felix, Idepe High School, Okitipupa, Ondo State (₦3.5 million).
Best Federal Teacher – Ubani Roseblund Ibiyiye, Federal Government College, Abuloma.
Teaching as a Collaborative Profession
This year’s celebration, themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” brought together teachers, education administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
In his address, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, said the Ministry has implemented several initiatives to revitalise the teaching profession, including the National Teacher Policy, which empowers teachers through professional development and peer support systems at school and zonal levels.
“Our experience has shown that when teachers work collaboratively—through peer mentoring, co-teaching, and the use of digital platforms—learning outcomes improve, and teachers experience professional growth and fulfilment,” Dr. Alausa said.
He highlighted ongoing partnerships between the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), National Teachers Institute (NTI), and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to strengthen continuous professional development nationwide.
Dr. Alausa emphasised that collaboration should be at the heart of the teaching profession, adding that teachers must embrace teamwork, openness, and shared responsibility to achieve collective student success.
Minister of State Reiterates Government Commitment
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’du Ahma, described the celebration as part of a global movement led by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, and Education International to recognise the vital role of teachers in achieving sustainable development.
“For too long, teaching in Nigeria has been seen as an isolated responsibility,” she noted. “But with large class sizes, digital transitions, and curriculum reforms, collaboration has become essential.”
She added that the Ministry is strengthening teacher cooperation through the National Teacher Development Policy (2022), the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) established across schools.
According to her, rewarding excellence will further motivate teachers working in challenging conditions and attract more talented individuals into the profession.
Permanent Secretary and NUT President Commend Progress
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, said the celebration underscores the nation’s commitment to supporting and empowering teachers, in line with the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers.
He noted that collaborative reforms and digital learning platforms under UBEC and NTI are already enhancing teacher performance and peer-to-peer exchange nationwide.
The President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Amba, commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards, introduced in 2007. He said the award has inspired dedication and restored dignity to the teaching profession.
Comrade Amba, however, urged the federal government to revisit the decision to delist the TRCN from public funding, noting that the council needs adequate resources to regulate and strengthen the profession effectively.
He also cited the UBEC 2024 report, which revealed a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools, warning that the situation in secondary schools was equally worrisome.
This year’s World Teachers’ Day celebration united education stakeholders in honouring Nigerian teachers, while reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to excellence, collaboration, and reform in the teaching profession in line with the Education for Renewed Hope Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
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