Teachers in Nigeria have begun to reap the rewards of their services to humanity on earth, thereby disregarding the age-long belief that "teachers" rewards are in heaven."
On Sunday, 5th October, 2025, the Federal Government, proved to the teachers that hard work pays, as some of them who were identified to have had outstanding records in teaching, administration and other activities in the year were openly rewarded and celebrated as part of an event to mark the 2025 World Teacher's Day at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
This year, the awards came in form of brand new cars, buses (for schools), laptops, and other prizes, courtesy of the President's Teachers and Schools Excellence Award (PTSEA) that was initiated a few years ago to reward the outstanding teachers and schools for their professional performance in the previous academic year.
The World Teacher's Day celebration was celebrated simultaneously across Nigeria. In Abuja, the celebration took place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, with the theme, "Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession," and the Ministers of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad led the event, alongside some governors and ministers who also attended the event.
At the event in Abuja, teachers' entertained guests with match past and cultural dance, all of which contained messages that amplify the campaign for better working conditions and welfare packages for the teachers.
Different speakers at the event highlighted the important role of the teachers in national development, encouraging the teachers not to give up in their roles of shaping the character of the future generations.
Minister's concerns
Minster for Education, Dr. Alausa, in his remarks, stressed the need for teachers who desire relevance in 21st century world to leverage on evolving technology to improve on their skills and competencies so they can comfortably pass the right information and knowledge to the students using the right skills and approach.
He said: "We have a huge opportunity in our hands to leap-frog development in education sector through technology. But to do this, we must continue to invest in expanding our capacity as teachers. We cannot integrate technology successfully as urgently as we need to without training and equipping teachers.
"Technology has infinitely expanded the opportunities for teachers to develop themselves professionally and to broaden their career trajectories. There are tons of materials and courses available online for aiding teacher professional development."
He confirmed that the Federal Government has begun full implementation of the professional teaching and teacher qualification framework standards that would invariably impact education outcome and teacher performance at the pre-school, basic, secondary, and tertiary levels.
"We must note that teachers shape all other professionals working behind closed classroom doors with little exchange of ideas, experiences, or support. Today, as education faces increasing demands and rapid change, the role of the teacher has evolved to become collaborative. He /She shares, learns, and grows with others in pursuit of collective student success is the new vision.
"A collaborative teacher understands that education is not an individual task but a shared responsibility. Such a teacher freely shares lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies while remaining humble enough to learn from others. They demonstrate strong communication skills, listening actively, speaking clearly, engaging respectfully in dialogue, and offering constructive feedback while showing a willingness to build consensus even when opinions differ.
"Above all, they are committed to lifelong professional growth, both for their personal advancement and for the enrichment of the wider teaching community. As we are all aware, this annual event aligns with global movement championed by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF and Education International to recognize the vital role of teachers in advancing education for sustainable development reiterating that rewarding Teachers is an investment in quality Education, student achievement and national progress.
"Accordingly, the theme for this year, "Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession," resonates deeply with Nigeria's education reform agenda. Our experience has shown that when teachers are supported to work together through peer mentoring, joint lesson planning, co-teaching, and the use of digital platforms, learning outcomes improve, and teachers themselves experience professional growth and fulfillment."
NUT president laments
President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Titus Amba, used the opportunity of World Teachers Day celebration to highlight the concerns of the teachers, particularly the issue of welfare and working conditions.
Amba made reference to promises made to the teachers during the 2020 World Teachers Day by late President Muhammadu Buhari, which has not been fulfilled, appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevail on the state governments to address the concerns.
He said: "It has been established that teachers are the soul of any education system. Hence, the proper status of teachers and due public regard for the teaching profession is of major importance for the full realization of educational aims and objectives.
"The well-being of teachers is crucial to attract and retain teachers in the profession and tackle the teacher shortage. It is also central to the realization of the right to quality education for all.
"It was in recognition of the low status of teachers and the poor conditions under which they work that the Federal Government under President Buhari approved some welfare packages for teachers with a view to repositioning the education sector for greater service delivery in the country.
Some of the approved incentives include: special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools; harmonized retirement age of 65 years and 40 years of service for teachers; reintroduction of bursary award for students studying education in universities and Colleges of Education; building of low-cost houses for teachers in rural areas; provision of loan facilities for agriculture, housing, cars, motorcycles and others to support teachers' earnings; and free tuition and automatic admission for biological children of teachers.
"It is worrisome to note that apart from the new retirement age for teachers, which has been implemented by 22 states and the FCT, most of the promises made by late President Buhari in 2020 are yet to be implemented.
"We hereby call on both Federal and State Governments to ensure full implementation of these approved incentives for teachers to promote their effectiveness and quality learning outcomes in our school system."
The NUT President also observed with dismay that the new minimum wage signed into law on 29th July 2024 was yet to be fully implemented for teachers. "As of today, 10 states have not fully implemented the minimum wage for teachers; out of this number, six states have partially implemented, while four states have not implemented at all."
He commended all the states that have paid the minimum wage to their workers, including teachers, thereby calling on the defaulting states to comply without further delay for the interest of industrial peace and harmony in their States.
Amba also highlighted the growing challenge of shortage of teachers in schools, stressing that it has become a major challenge to education systems of nations around the world, thereby having direct implications on the quality of education.
He made reference to UNESCO'S Global Reports on Teachers and Early childhood care and Education (2024) which indicated a shortage of about 44 million primary and secondary education teachers, and at least 6 million pre-primary education teachers to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by 2030.
"In Nigeria, available statistics revealed an alarming manpower crisis in primary and secondary schools especially in the rural areas. UBEC report in 2024 indicated that there is a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools across the country.
"The situation in the secondary education sub-sector is also not encouraging. Shortage of teachers in our schools undermines the nation's commitment to providing quality education for all in line with SDG 4.
"In response to the global teacher shortage, the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession called on nations to make the teaching profession more attractive for younger generations and to create National Commissions to tackle teacher shortages.
"We, hereby, add our voice to this global call to action and urge all tiers of government to ensure that the right number and quality of teachers are employed to promote effective education delivery and improve learning outcomes in our school system."
The NUT President also condemned the growing interest of some state governments to hand over schools to churches and private individuals, insisting that education is universally acknowledged as a fundamental human right that is central to the development of humanity and transformation of society. "It is, therefore, a core responsibility of government to respect, safeguard, and fulfill the right of every child to education.
"It is worrisome that some governments are adopting policies that promote privatization and commercialization of education through handover of schools to missions and voluntary agencies, rather than building and maintaining public schools that would provide the needed access and cater for the interest of all children, including the less-privileged and the vulnerable, especially the girl-child, children with disabilities and those living in rural areas.
"It is important to state that privatization of education in any guise creates disparities in educational opportunities and social inequalities, and as such negates our collective desire and commitment, as a nation, to provide compulsory, free, universal basic education for all.
"The NUT frowned on the recent decision of the Edo State Government to handover of some schools to missions, and called on the government to rescind its decision and rise to its obligation of providing inclusive and equitable quality education for all children in the State," he said.
The 2025 president's teachers' excellence award
Meanwhile, the highlights of the event was the presentation of award to some teachers, school administrators, among others who were outstanding in their different ways under the umbrella of the President's Teachers and School Excellence Award.
Solanke Francis Taiwo from Ansar-Udeen Main School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, emerged the best teacher in Nigeria in the 2025 President's Teachers and School Excellence Award, thus going home with the star prize of a brand new JAC Car.
Similarly, Woliwo Primary School II, Onitsha, Anambra State, emerged the best public primary school in Nigeria. The award came with a brand new school bus; while Onike Junior High School, Lagos, also emerged the best junior school in Nigeria in the 2025 President's Teachers and School Excellence Award, and the award also came with a brand new bus.
Odenike Fausat Mobolaji from Elepe Community Junior High School, Ikorodu, Lagos, was rewarded with N3.5m for emerging the best school leader. While Emmanuel Ozor Charles from the Greater Tomorrow International College, Ondo, was also rewarded with N3.5m for emerging best private school teacher.
In his reaction, Solanke Francis Taiwo said he was shocked for being selected for such a national recognition. "I never knew i was being watched by my immediate and extended environment."
He dedicated the award to all the people who supported him in the profession in one way or the other, promising to put in more effort in the cause of the delivery of the teaching services to his students.
On her side, the Head Mistress, Woliwo Primary School II, Onitsha, Anambra State, Mrs. Odiegwu Francisca attributed the recognition to the support the school enjoyed from the state government led by the Governor Charles Soludo.
She said that a lot of sacrifices were made for the school to make the feat, promising to sustain the quality and standards of the school in terms of academic delivery and moulding of character.