Beyond Teachers' Day: Teachers deserve better deal

Beyond Teachers’ Day: Teachers deserve better deal

Fatai ADEWUYI

Teachers are like potters to clay for they determine the progress of nations and shape the life of individuals. On 5th October, 2025, another World Teachers’ Day was held, to celebrate teachers worldwide. Teachers are indeed worthy of being celebrated.

Frankly speaking, teachers have been neglected for too long in this part of the world – Africa, most especially Nigeria. They are being subjected to deprivations reflected in poor salaries, poor working conditions, social neglect among many other untold hardship. Yet, they belong to a noble profession whose members’ rewards are said to be in heaven, forgetting that the diligent and passionate ones among them start reaping that rewards on earth.

Opinion leaders, NGOs, government agencies and philanthropists should awake from their slumber and start treating teachers well. For they are nation builders, moulders of lives and destiny designers. They determine the pace of development of a nation, for no nation grows above the quality of its teachers. For this, they need be paid well, provided good working conditions, conducive learning environment and made to enjoy goodies of teaching profession comparable to other professions like law and medicine.

May God who has chosen the teaching profession as a noble profession not reward teachers only in heaven but reward us on earth too, for l am a teacher too. Amen.

Happy Teachers’ Day, great teachers..

Adewuyi is former head teacher, FGC Staff School, Ogbomoso, now CEO, Atmecs (Adewuyi Tijani Memorial Educational Consultancy Services) 08130851574