Stakeholders urge government to prioritise teachers’ welfare

Stakeholders in Nigeria's education sector are amplifying their calls for the government to place teachers at the forefront of national development, asserting that genuine reform is unattainable without sustained investment in their welfare, motivation, and professional growth. This renewed emphasis was a central theme at the 'Let There Be Teachers Conference 2026' held in Abuja, an event supported by the Federal Ministry of Education. The conference, under the banner ‘From Record to Reform: A National HOPE Attempt for Teachers,’ signaled a critical shift from mere symbolic gestures to advocating for long-term structural reforms that genuinely elevate the teaching profession. Oluwaseyi Anifowose, the convener, highlighted the movement's objective to restore dignity to teaching and address the daily realities faced by educators across the nation. He poignantly noted that the future of Nigeria is being shaped not just in policy rooms but in classrooms by dedicated teachers working with available resources. This initiative is more than just a conference; it's the ignition of a movement poised to mobilize at least 200,000 teachers across Nigeria, with a significant presence in every state and the Federal Capital Territory. These mobilized teachers are expected to take ownership of their classrooms and contribute actively to shaping the future. A key event planned for October 2026 is the National Teachers’ Professional Pledge, underscoring a commitment to professional standards and ethical conduct. The program, led by Executive Director Sola Adeola, aims to amplify teachers' voices and tackle persistent structural challenges within the education system, ensuring they are active drivers of transformation, not just passive recipients of policy.

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We are in a space where a lot of people became teachers because they could not get the kind of job they wanted. But thankfully, some of us are here because we want to be teachers. We believe that once you can change one child, you are changing a generation.