*Names Katsina Gov Best Education Gov
The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Education has rewarded outstanding performances of teachers in the country.
This took place on Sunday when it joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2025 World Teachers Day.
The 2025 WTD celebration, which was marked at the Eagles Square in Abuja and themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession” brought together teachers and other stakeholders across the country.
The Federal Government, at the occasion, also reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of teachers in the country, as Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda was named the 2025 Education Governor, among other governors who were honoured by the Federal Ministry of Education for their feats in the sector.
Other awardees include; Best Teacher, Solanke Francis Taiwo of
Ansar – Udeen Main School, who got a car; Kemta – Abeokuta
Best School (BUS); Woliwo Primary School Onitsha, Anambra State
Best School (BUS); Onike Girls Junior High School Lagos, Lagos State Best School Leader (₦3,500,000); Odenike Fausat Mobolaji Elepe Community Junior High School Ikorodu, Lagos
Best Teacher 2 Best Public Private (₦3,500,000); Emmanuel Ozor Charles Greater Tomorrow International College
Ondo Best Public (₦3,500,000);
Pupil Jnr School Fayomi Felix
Idepe High School Idepe
Okitipupa, Ondo State; Best Teacher (₦3,500,000) Ubani Roseblund Ibiyiye Federal Government College
Abuloma.
Governor Umar Radda, emerged the 2025 education governor for recruiting a total of 7,325 teachers to bridge manpower gaps in schools, approval and implementation of #70,000 minimum wage for teachers;
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, was also honoured for acceding to the age long demand of teachers on implementation of 100 percent salary payment.
Delta State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori was honoured for outstanding performance in educational sector;
Also Adamawa State Governor, Rt.Hon Ahmadu Umaru was honoured for employment of 5000 teachers, building model schools in all 21 local government areas of the state.
Other governors were also honoured for exceptional outstanding performances.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, said the Ministry has initiated numerous policies to revitalize the teaching profession including the National Teacher Policy which ensures that teachers are professionally empowered and motivated as well as peer support structures which are being encouraged at school and zonal levels nationwide.
Accordingly, he stressed that the theme for this year, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” resonates deeply with Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
"Our experience has shown that when teachers are supported to work together through peer mentoring, joint lesson planning, co-teaching, and the use of digital platforms, learning outcomes improve, and teachers themselves experience professional growth and fulfillment.
"The sector is also leveraging ICT to connect teachers across states and provide access to global best practices.
"We have a robust continuous professional development opportunity through the Teachers Registration Council (TRCN) of Nigeria, National Teachers Institute (NTI) and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
"The current situation being that TRCN concentrates on licensing, monitoring compliance to standards, registration and regulating the teaching profession while NTI focus and sustain in-service teacher training and continuous professional development at the basic and post-basic levels.
"Teaching is often viewed as an individual practice, which can make some teachers resist collaboration for fear of interference or added workload. To address this, it is essential to build and sustain a culture of trust, openness, and shared responsibility.
"We must note that Teachers shape all other professionals working behind closed classroom doors with little exchange of ideas, experiences, or support.
"Today, as education faces increasing demands and rapid change, the role of the teacher has evolved to become collaborative. He /She shares, learns, and grows with others in pursuit of collective student success is the new vision," the minister noted.
According to Dr. Aluasa, a collaborative teacher understands that education is not an individual task but a shared responsibility.
"Such a teacher freely shares lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies, while remaining humble enough to learn from others.
"They demonstrate strong communication skills—listening actively, speaking clearly, engaging respectfully in dialogue, and offering constructive feedback—while showing a willingness to build consensus even when opinions differ. Above all, they are committed to lifelong professional growth, both for their personal advancement and for the enrichment of the wider teaching community."
Commending all stakeholders in achieving positive milestones for teachers nationwide, the minister implored community leaders, teacher unions, parents, and development partners 'to strengthen their efforts so that together we can effectively deliver on the promises of the Education for Renewed Hope Agenda and the Education targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4)."
On her part, the Minister for State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad said that the annual event aligns with the global movement championed by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF and Education International to recognize the vital role of teachers in advancing education for sustainable development.
"The theme is particularly relevant to our national context. For too long, teaching in Nigeria has often been approached as an isolated responsibility, with each teacher carrying the heavy burden of instruction alone.
"Yet, the realities of large class sizes, curriculum reforms, digital transitions, and diverse learner needs demand a more collaborative approach.
"Accordingly, the Ministry is strengthening teacher collaboration through initiatives such as the National Teacher Development Policy (2022), the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and the promotion of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) across schools.
"These efforts are in line with our commitment to raising teacher quality, professional pride, and overall learning outcomes."
She said the reward for excellent performance, will encourage teachers to continue to strive for the top.
"As we reward outstanding School Leaders, innovative teachers and effective schools nationwide. This will invariably energize teachers in challenging conditions, improve retention, reduce attrition and encourage more talented individuals to enter the profession," she said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan said that; "this celebration will propel us to renew our commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian teacher is supported, respected, and given opportunities to collaborate in pursuit of quality education in support of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation on the Status of Teachers that popularized the commemoration of Teachers Day globally.
"In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with all the Education parastatals, the State Ministries and other agencies, is championing reforms that make collaboration central to teacher training, classroom practice, and professional development.
"We are already seeing progress through the numerous Teacher Professional Development programmes anchored by UBEC and NTI, the extant Digital learning platforms that enable peer-to-peer exchange and School-based management committees that promote shared responsibility among teachers, parents, and communities."
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT, Comrade Audu Titus Amba commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the President's Teachers and Schools Excellence Award instituted in 2007 by the federal government to reward deserving teachers, administrators and schools for their outstanding contributions to quality education delivery in the country.
"We are pleased that the award has not only promoted hard-work and excellence among teachers but has also helped to inspire hope and restore the pride of teachers supporting the observance of this global event in their respective States.
"This year's theme highlights the vital role teachers play in education systems and in the societies against the backdrop of the growing global commitment to transforming amid the rapidly changing world which has impacted the education landscape in nation's across the world."
He stressed the need for funding the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, saying; "the NUT wishes to use this special day for teachers to reiterate it's call on the federal government to revisit the issue of delisting the TRCN among other regulatory bodies from government funding and to ensure that the council benefits from the national budget in order to provide the needed empowerment and support for the TRCN to strengthen the teaching profession for greater service delivery and productivity."
The NUT president also lamented shortage of teachers citing the UBEC ( 2024) which said that there is a shortage of 194,876 teachers in public primary schools, across the country, noting that the situation I secondary sub-sector is also not encouraging.