During a symposium held in Abuja ahead of the World Teachers’ Day celebration on Sunday, October 5, 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, emphasized the critical role of educators. The 2025 global theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” highlights the need for collective approaches in education.
Initiated in 1994 by UNESCO, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Education International (EI), and UNICEF, World Teachers’ Day honors teachers’ contributions to education and societal progress. The event draws from the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers, which outlines standards for educators’ rights and responsibilities.
Dr. Alausa described teachers as the bedrock of professional development and shapers of our nation’s future. He underscored their foundational role, stating, every profession be it medicine, engineering, or academia owes its existence to teachers. The government is diligently working to enhance support through improved welfare and resources, ensuring a promising future for educators, he said.
Addressing the theme, he advocated for collaborative teaching practices, noting, “Honestly, you have the most important and the best profession in the country. Who makes a doctor? Who makes an engineer? Who makes a professor? It is the teacher. That is why the government is working assiduously to come up with better packages for you. Light is at the end of the tunnel.”
He further emphasized the need for robust support systems, stating, “For too long, teaching has often been practiced in isolation but when teachers collaborate, students are the ultimate beneficiaries, they receive richer, more engaging instruction and witness firsthand the power of teamwork and shared responsibility.”
Dr. Alausa also celebrated the global achievements of Nigerian professionals, attributing their success to educators’ dedication. “Anywhere in the world, when they say a Nigerian student becomes a professional, they do so well. That’s the output of your work. We know we can’t pay you enough, but be proud of yourselves. On behalf of the President, I commend you for your sacrifices, your diligence, and your commitment to building our nation” he said, speaking on behalf of the President.
