The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and other stakeholders in the education sector, is set to attempt a Guinness World Record by mobilising 60,000 teachers for a historic gathering at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos.
The event, titled the ‘Let There Be Teachers’ Conference, is scheduled to take place this Saturday and aims to celebrate educators while addressing critical issues within Nigeria’s education system.
Speaking during a strategic planning meeting ahead of the conference, stakeholders—including school leaders, educators, and education advocates—highlighted the importance of the initiative in promoting school growth, sustainability, and policy reform.
“This is a precursor to the main event on Saturday,” said Coach Luyi Armstrong, General Secretary of NAPPS. “We are excited that, for the first time in our country’s history, teachers will gather at this scale to discuss their challenges and celebrate their contributions.”
The convener of the conference and education advocate, Oluwaseyi Anifowose, emphasised the value of collaboration in the sector.
“The growth of our schools is directly tied to the growth of our teachers,” he said. “When we empower schools, we empower educators—and ultimately, we secure the future of education in Nigeria.”
Dr Hakeem Subair, co-founder of 1 Million Teachers (1MT), also underscored the critical role teachers play in national development.
“It is time for society to pay more attention to teachers’ issues,” he noted. “Teachers play a remarkable role in shaping society and building social harmony.”
The ‘Let There Be Teachers’ Conference aims to provide a robust platform for rethinking Nigeria’s educational challenges. It will also foster unity among school leaders, policymakers, and development partners, while celebrating teachers, advancing solutions to learning poverty, encouraging technology-driven teaching, and strengthening teacher training nationwide.
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.
