As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the government to prioritize the welfare of Nigerian teachers.
In a post on his official X handle, @PeterObi, Obi emphasized the crucial role teachers play in shaping the nation’s future.
Nigeria faces a severe teacher shortage, with a reported deficit of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools. This shortage has significant economic implications, hindering the development of human capital and affecting the nation’s ability to produce a competent workforce.
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has urged private sector support to improve education access.
Obi lamented the poor conditions of service for teachers, particularly university lecturers, who have recently expressed grievances over harsh working conditions. “On this World Teachers’ Day, I join the global community in celebrating members of a unique profession that forms the basis of human development. It is a day to celebrate all teachers, especially those in Nigeria, whose dedication and resilience have kept the fires of our education sector burning, even against all odds.”
Citing reports of a global shortage of teachers amounting to 45 million, Obi noted that Africa alone needs about 15 million teachers to boost its education sector. “The lack of attention to the welfare of our teachers has remained unresolved for far too long. Aside from caring for teachers, the government must invest more in the training of new educators.”
Obi urged the government to “speedily resolve any lingering issues it has with teachers and invest more in the welfare, training, and development of Nigerian teachers to enable them to continue delivering the best standard of education to our children.” He commended Nigerian teachers for their dedication and encouraged them to “keep the fire burning.” “A New Nigeria remains possible. Happy World Teachers’ Day to all Nigerian teachers.”
