The Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu has described teachers, as great leaders and heroes of educational development and nation builders in Nigeria, for their contributions to the country.
The Commissioner made this commendation today, during the 2021 World Teachers Day celebration, held at Nigeria Union of Teacher (NUT) Multipurpose hall, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin.
According to her, “There is no contention about the positive contribution of teachers to Human Capital Development globally. Teachers produced engineers, artists, other teachers, Judges, administrators and other professionals. It means without teachers, the world would not have great leaders and heroes who make our planet a better place for all”.
Hajiya Modibbo Kawu gave kudos to the commitment of the present administration, under the leadership of Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, to educational development and the improvement of the teacher’s welfare, who are labouring to build our future leaders.
She further said, “Distinguished teachers, it is obviously seen in State today, that the present administration in Kwara State, under our amiable Governor, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, recognizes teachers as nation builders, and key to the development being witnessed in the state.
“The government has strived to contribute enormously within the resources at her disposal, to ensure that the welfarism of teachers is on the front burner. I can assure you that Government is not also relenting in the improvement of socioeconomic lives of teachers in the state.”
She therefore commended the leadership of teachers in the state, for their good understanding and support to the present administration, in its bid to provide quality education for the betterment of our future leaders.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Umar Usman Abdullahi, commended the initiative of the present administration, in revamping the education sector in the state.
“We are indeed very grateful to you in your efforts to make education great and strong in Kwara State, particularly, the employment of about 4,720 teachers in both Primary and Post Primary Schools in the state, and the regular payment of salaries.
” We also appreciate you and your government for your approval of promotions of Teachers in SUBEB from 2016-2020. We promise our unalloyed loyalty to your administration in moving education to the next level in Kwara State, in all ramifications.”
He further urged the Governor to look into the challenges facing teachers in the state, such as the payment of the outstanding promotion arrears for TESCOM; financial implementation of new promotion; payment of Minimum Wages to Kwara workers; appointment of Headteachers and Principals as Head Teachers- General and Tutors- General, amongst others.
In his lecture, Dr. Rasheed Shofiu Adewuyi of the Department of Social Sciences Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin with the theme: “Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery” discussed the effect of the pandemic and insecurity, on the teaching profession, and highlighted effective promising policy response for teachers to be at the heart of revamping education.
He also implored the government to rise to the challenges of limited access to technology to learn; need for digital literacy education; intergenerational education inequalities; rural students cut off from learning; children with disability’s difficult to access learning; drop out of school and child labour.
He also emphasized teacher’s welfare, which according to him is paramount, in any successful reform in the education sector.
The event was well attended the Honourable Commissioner for Education, representative of Head of Service, representative of Secretary to State Government, representative of Chairman SUBEB.
Others education stakeholders present included members of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), NLC, PTA and others.