The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has called for a stronger culture of collaboration among teachers as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 World Teachers’ Day at the Eagles Square, Abuja, on Sunday.
Delivering his keynote address at the event themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” Dr Alausa described teachers as the “bedrock of human capital development and nation-building,” noting that the celebration highlights the invaluable contribution of teachers to the advancement of society.
According to the minister, the annual celebration aligns with the global initiative championed by UNESCO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNICEF, and Education International, which seeks to recognise teachers’ roles in promoting education for sustainable development.
He said, “Rewarding teachers is an investment in quality education, student achievement, and national progress.”
Dr Alausa emphasised that Nigeria’s education reform agenda is centred on empowering teachers through collaboration, peer mentoring, co-teaching, and the use of digital platforms to enhance learning outcomes.
“The Ministry has initiated numerous policies to revitalise the teaching profession, including the National Teacher Policy, which ensures that teachers are professionally empowered and motivated,” he explained.
The minister highlighted the complementary roles of key education agencies such as the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), National Teachers Institute (NTI), and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
“While the TRCN focuses on licensing, registration, and regulation of teaching standards, the NTI sustains in-service training and continuous professional development at both basic and post-basic levels,” he added.
Acknowledging that teaching is often perceived as an individualistic endeavour, Dr Alausa urged educators to embrace teamwork and shared responsibility.
“To address resistance to collaboration, we must build and sustain a culture of trust, openness, and collective responsibility. Education today requires teachers to share, learn, and grow together in pursuit of student success,” he said.
He described collaborative teachers as those who “share lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies freely, while remaining humble enough to learn from others.” He also commended teachers who demonstrate effective communication, active listening, and respect for differing opinions in the course of their work.
The minister appealed to community leaders, teacher unions, parents, and development partners to continue supporting the government’s efforts in implementing the Education for Renewed Hope Agenda and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education.
“As we celebrate and reward outstanding teachers, school leaders, and institutions today, let us remember that when Nigerian teachers collaborate and thrive, our children learn better, our education system becomes stronger, and our nation is assured of a brighter future,” Dr Alausa concluded.
The event also featured the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards, recognising exceptional contributions by educators and institutions across the country.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.