By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Teachers in the education sector have begun finding their voices as they condemn neglect they face and the deteriorating condition of teachers and call for urgent reforms to salvage the deteriorating education sector.
They warned that neglect has negative impact on performance in school and learning outcomes.
Stakeholders further stressed that poor welfare, inadequate professional support, and limited investment in teachers are also weakening the foundation of the education system, posing long-term risks to national development.
Speaking on the challenges of teachers, convener of the “Let There Be Teachers” movement,” Oluwaseyi Anifowose, said that the daily realities they face reflect deeper systemic failures that need immediate and deliberate intervention.
He said attitudes to teachers in Nigeria abound.
According to Anifowose, who officially launched the teachers intervention on Friday in Abuja, thousands of teachers across Nigeria continue to deliver under difficult conditions, often without recognition, resources, or institutional backing.
“Across the country, teachers stand before their students every day, doing their best with limited support. That moment in the classroom is where the future of this nation is shaped,” he said.
Anifowose noted that while teachers remain central to nation-building, they are burdened by structural challenges that hinder their effectiveness.
He emphasized the need to move beyond rhetoric to critical reforms that result in accountability and sustained commitment to improving the profession.
“This is not about another event or applause; it is about real reform. We must transition from recognition to responsibility and from promises to action,” he emphasised.
Moreover, Anifowose unveiled a reform-focused initiative aimed at mobilizing 200,000 teachers nationwide into a structured programme designed to enhance classroom delivery and professional accountability.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at capacity building, welfare improvement, and overall well-being of teachers, adding that these factors are critical to achieving better learning outcomes.
“A struggling teacher cannot produce a thriving classroom. Investment in teachers—professionally, financially, and personally—is non-negotiable if we are serious about results,” he said.
Furthermore, Executive Director of the initiative, Sola Adeola Amudipe, described the situation of the teaching profession as a national concern, insisting that the quality of any education system is tied to the condition of its teachers.
She lamented that the teaching profession has been overlooked for too long, calling for urgent policy actions and sustained investment to change the narrative.
“Education cannot rise above the quality, dignity, and visibility of its teachers. If national development is a priority, then supporting teachers must also be a priority,” she stated.
Amudipe added that deliberate change would require more than symbolic gestures, urging stakeholders to adopt practical and sustainable solutions.
“This is a clear statement that teachers matter, their voices matter, and the future of the nation depends on them,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the teaching profession, noting that teacher quality, motivation, and recognition remain central to improving the education system.
Director of the Department of Colleges of Education, Dr. Uchemba Uba, described the conference as a timely intervention amid growing concerns about learning outcomes nationwide.
Dr. Uba represented by Dr. Iyabode Aliyu, said that initiatives like the “Let There Be Teachers” Conference 2026 provide a platform for critical reflection, collaboration, and policy-driven reform.
Uba commended the introduction of innovative support mechanisms, including the Happy Teachers App and the Graduate Teachers Fellowship, describing them as practical steps toward addressing longstanding challenges in the sector.
He emphasized that sustainable progress in education would depend on consistent policies and structured programmes aimed at empowering teachers.
Repositioning teachers at the centre of national development is essential to achieving lasting improvements in the education system, Uba said.
End
