FG Rewards 12 Outstanding Teachers Nationwide

12 Outstanding Teachers across the six geopolitical zones of the country have benefited from a 350million Federal government award at the Basic and Senior secondary levels.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa presented the award to beneficiaries at the National Teachers Summit in Abuja with the theme “Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System:A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability”.

The award ceremony is coming on the heels of the launch of the EduRevamp Online Teacher Professional Development Portal for teachers’ continuous learning, capacity building and skills development.

Declaring the summit open, the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration to sustained investment in the sector, noting that education is an essential pillar for national development in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Earlier in a remark, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa explained that each of the selected teachers received 25million Naira each, while the overall best teacher of the year, Mr Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional 25m, bringing his total cash prize to 50million Naira.

In addition to the cash prize, Mr Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

The Minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, as they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.

Dr Alausa said the summit was designed to strengthen the teaching profession and advance sustainable education reforms, while fostering dialogue that would shape the national education policy and inform future reform initiatives.

On the launch of the EduRevamp, the Minister explained that it is
designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes, adding that it is open to teachers in both public and private schools, attached with performance-based incentives upon completion of certified training.

In her welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, who emphasized the role of teachers in education reforms agenda, noted that the summit was timely and strategic.

According to her, any good education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.

“The theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities, hence investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reforms and national development”.

On his part, the national President of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Amba while commending the Federal government for the initiative described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition and restoration of teachers dignity and pride as well as roles in national development.

In their separate presentations, a student of Junior Secondary Garki Abuja, Suwaiba Bello and a visually impaired teacher from Barma school for the visually impaired, Dutse, Jigawa state, Mr Dahiru Ibrahim commended the federal government for the summit and called for its sustenance towards improved service delivery.

The Summit brought together stakeholders in the sector including development partners from UNESCO, UNICEF, the Bristish Council as well as the state governors of Borno, Kebbi and Jigawa.

Nkiruka Okeke, Edited By Grace Namiji