As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Teachers’ Day 2025, the federal government reiterated its promise to improve the welfare, recognition, and professional support of teachers across the country.
Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, and Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education, announced this yesterday at a symposium conducted before the formal celebration on Sunday, October 5. “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession” is the theme for the 2025 edition.
UNESCO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Education International (EI), and UNICEF all worked together to create World Teachers’ Day in 1994. Every year, this day is commemorated to honor teachers and bring attention to how important they are in influencing education and society. It goes back to the 1966 ILO/UNESCO guideline about how teachers should be treated.
Alausa called Nigerian teachers “the custodians of knowledge, the builders of character, and the architects of national future” in his speech.
He said that teachers are the most important and finest job in the country. “Honestly, you have the most important and best profession in the country,” he said. Who makes a doctor? Who creates an engineer? Who makes a teacher? The teacher is the one. That’s why the government is working hard to make better packages for you. “There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
He also talked about how important it is for teachers to work together, saying, “For too long, teaching has been done in isolation.” But pupils are the ones who really benefit when teachers work together. They get better, more interesting lessons and see how powerful teamwork and shared responsibility can be.
He told teachers that the government will support them and asked, “What do you need to get the best education?” A good teacher. What should you do if you want a good teacher? “Give them the help, training, and cooperation they need.”
He ended by praising their global influence, saying, “When they say a Nigerian student becomes a professional, they do so well anywhere in the world.” That’s what your work made. We realize we can’t pay you enough, but you should be proud of yourselves. “On behalf of the President, I want to thank you for your hard work, sacrifices, and dedication to building our country.”
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