Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that his administration is committed to increasing the capacity of the teaching workforce across the state through feasible local and international training.
Governor Sanwo-Olu noted this on Wednesday during the 2022 World Teachers’ Day celebration organized by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State wing, at the NUT Pavilion, Alausa, Ikeja
At the event, themed: “The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers,” Sanwo-Olu assured that his administration is committed to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the teachers, adding: “We will continue to be proactive and listen to the yearnings of the teachers. You are an important stakeholder. No society can deliver quality education without teachers.
“Our teachers must get their rewards on earth here, before heaven and we will continue to increase the capacity of the teaching profession.”
While urging them to uphold the ethics of the profession and show an uncommon sense of commitment to the profession, the governor noted: “We will continue to make massive investments in the capacity of schools.”
The governor also said his administration was making investments in the welfare of school personnel to become a designation of learning and skills transfer committed to education.
The Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, at the event, which had in attendance both federal, and state governments officials, among others, said that to get it right, the government must focus on teachers, which had been one of the cardinal points of the agenda in Lagos as the celebration took place simultaneously in 20 local governments across the state.
She urged teachers not to ignore the minute details when teaching, adding that loco-parentis should be considered as well.
A retired Permanent Secretary/Tutor General, Dr. Olayimika Ayandele, who was the guest lecturer, while confirming that teaching is a noble profession, added “Teachers are knowledge-givers, vast in training and instruction, as well as pave the way of creativity for the students.
“They prepare students for leadership positions, they are role models.”
Admitting that some teachers face challenges of low self-esteem, hopelessness, and uncertainty, among others, Dr. Ayandele added: “We cannot afford to have such teachers in Lagos because of the current administration in the state.”
She urged teachers to be careful so as to ensure that they are equipped for the job.
While commending the Sanwo-Olu’s administration for doing enough to take care of teachers in the state, Ayandele urged teachers to take ownership of the job individually and collectively.
She said that to achieve the transformation desired in the profession, teachers must adapt to filling the gap between them and the students, adding: “They must bridge the educational gap by changing how they interact with the students.”
Among others, she urged them to exhibit competence in their job, as well as go the extra mile to ensure lifelong learning.
Also, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos State wing, Hassan Akintoye, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his efforts at ensuring the delivery of quality education.
He said that transformative education involved teaching and learning geared to motivate and empower happy and healthy learners to take informed decisions, as well as actions.
National President of NUT, Audu Amba, represented by the Social Secretary, Titi Adebanjo, thanked the government for transforming education in the state and for promptly addressing all the issues that had to do with the sector.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of plaques to the governor by the teachers.
