Education
Teacher’s Day Celebration: Tackling Fundamental of National Educational System
By Blaise Udunze
Every day is for the Teachers! The moment we start giving preferences to the profession and the people as the most important members of our society, the moment there will be the emergence of true instructors and educators who are ready to instil the requisite knowledge for nation-building.
Alas! The society is in quagmire and stagnated in this part of the world. Over the years, the least attention has been given to the whole of the educational sector- the citadel of learning. The Citadel houses the army of teachers. Today, can it be said to be a great citadel of learning? Can it be said to be a fortified environment that promotes excellence in academics through sound teaching and learning that influences people to become better and ideal citizens who are able to shape a better society to live in, by knowing and respecting rights, laws, and regulations?
Alas! This must be one of the reasons our nations have been locked in dangerous and usually complex situation which is difficult to exit. We have been embroiled in inextricable complexities amongst civilians during the electioneering processes that come with its reverberating effects on democracy with the support of the judiciary.
This is informed by the monumental corruption and the lack of interest in the sector caused by bad government policies and the lack of political will amongst the ‘elites’ to enforce or implement laws. Hence, the Nigerian educational system is bedevilled with a myriad of glitches that have led to the near-comatose of the sector in recent years.
The system is faced with problems such as lack of adequate funding, negligence of teachers’ welfare, poor governance, corruption, lack of Infrastructure, indiscipline, lack of teaching aids and outdated curriculum. Though, the entire sector is wracked by endemic corruption, so much so that it has eaten deeply into the fabric of the entire system; the fundamentals must first be addressed.
Alas! The lacuna in the educational sector of our country that happens to be the rudiment impeding the sustainable development meant to intrinsically translate to the nation of ‘my dream’ and ‘your dream’ invariably stems from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (5th Alteration) (No. 8) ACT, 2023. And it has gone largely unnoticed!
Meanwhile, the ACT created the National Policy on Education (NPE) 2004 and the compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education (UBE) ACT 2004. The NPE affirmed that education in Nigeria is an instrument ‘par excellence’ for effecting national development. Primarily, amongst its objectives, the NPE is focused on the need for functional education for the promotion of a progressive united Nigeria, and to this end; school programmes need to be relevant, practical and comprehensive whilst interest and ability should determine the individual direction in education. This is expected for the country to spell out in clear and unequivocal terms the philosophy and objectives that underlie its investment in education (for the welfare of Teachers and Students).
However, the Nigerian Constitution provides that it shall be the responsibility of the government to direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels, it shall provide science and technology, it shall strive to eradicate illiteracy, and to this end, the government shall, as and when practicable, provide free, compulsory and universal primary education; free secondary education; free university education; and free adult literacy programme.
Consequently, regardless of the prevalence of robust laws and legislative measures towards ensuring the right to education and its role in maintaining a great citadel of learning that fosters the worth and development of the citizens for individual’s sake and for the general development of the society, the education system in Nigeria is still a chimaera.
One could have also believed that Nigeria as a member of the United Nations and a signatory to many international human rights instruments that provide for the right to education and made recommendations to promote teacher’s status in the interest of quality education would have addressed the enigma in the system.
In spite of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation that developing countries should dedicate 15% to 20% of their annual budget to public education, less than 2% of Nigeria’s GDP has been committed to education in more than 10 years. This shows that the national budget for education has remained abysmally poor over the period. This regardless of the fact that half of the money budgeted still ends up being stolen away by corrupt government officials, leaving the sector almost comatose.
UNESCO proclaimed 5 October to be World Teachers’ Day in 1994, celebrating the great step made for teachers on 5 October 1966.
Specifically, I must say that the recommendation has failed to promote teachers’ status in the interest of quality education.
The prevalent violations in the sector, however, revealed that making provision for quality education and the welfare of teachers in Nigeria have become anathema amongst successive governments.
With the current health of the country’s citadel of learning, the citadel that houses the army of teachers for the desired nation of our dreams remains elusive, which does not call for celebration of any sort.
No doubt, the narratives of the dream of our nation can be upturned through improved educational systems by funding the sector adequately, embracing technology, curriculum reform, and putting safeguards in place to stem the tidal wave of massive corruption that has stymied the growth of the sector in recent years.
Most importantly, the legislators should go back to the drawing board to ensure that the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution wholly captures the welfare of our teachers as an integral part of the education sector.
To get it right as a nation that values education, teachers’ sacrifices should be treated as blood is to life. I strongly agree with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi who said, “Teaching is not a profession, but a way of life.”
So, how well this important ‘way of life’ is handled determines the nations of our dreams. If this concept had been in practice over the years, it would have curbed the concerns of this year’s (2023) World Teachers’ Day celebrations, themed, The Teachers We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Imperative to Reverse the Teacher Shortage. Unfortunately, what value do we place on teachers in Nigeria?
Alas! Brain drain may hit the country’s educational sector soon, as the exodus of teachers from our country looms.
The daily appreciation and celebration by individuals and governments will address the unprecedented teacher shortage and showcase practices to attract, retain, and motivate teachers and educators in Nigeria and other African countries. I am of the opinion, it is high time the yearly 5th October, Teacher’s Day celebration is scrapped.
Permit me to buttress my point further with an extract from an aspiring linguist, Julia S’s narrative, titled, “In Japan, there is no Teacher’s Day”.
“In Japan, a teacher is the most respected profession, the most respected person. Japanese entrepreneurs are delighted when teachers visit their stores; they consider it an honour.
“During my time in Japan, I repeatedly saw how Japanese people deeply respect teachers. There are separate seats for them on the subway, and dedicated stores, and teachers don’t wait in line for tickets on any form of transportation. Why do Japanese teachers need a separate holiday when every day of their lives is like a celebration?”
I believe that every day is for the Teachers! Because Teachers across the world, work tirelessly daily, often without accolades.
Just like the Japanese cultural belief that the provision of quality education has been a hallmark of a prosperous nation, in our little ways, everyone can help by celebrating the profession, generating awareness about teacher issues, by ensuring that teacher’s respect and welfare are part of the natural order of things.
Indeed, teachers are the backbone of our democracy – fostering curiosity and creativity, building skilful individuals, and strengthening informed citizens in pursuit of the nation of our dreams.
Let’s take the opportunity each day to reverence the important roles teachers play in our lives because their determination and sincerity will shape the destiny of the nation as they are laying the foundation and the building blocks of society.
Blaise Udunze, a Media/Public Relations and Communications Professional, writes from Lagos. He can be reached via Email: Bl***********@***il.com Tel: +2348037901057s
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The Federal Ministry of Education made the announcement on Monday in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boriowo Folasade.
The ministry announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, with the Ministry acknowledging the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public since the planned increase became known.
The Ministry said the proposed fee review was driven by rising operational costs that have accumulated over several years without a corresponding adjustment to examination registration fees.
It said the current fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in costs covering logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
“The proposed review was informed by the prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations,” the statement said.
“The current examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational costs,” the Ministry added.
The ministry said the proposed fee hike will no longer take effect as earlier planned, while acknowledging that the concerns raised by Nigerians warranted a pause in the process.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the statement confirmed, adding that the June 18 letter conveying the proposed adjustment has been formally withdrawn.
“This decision underscores the Ministry’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and reflect the collective interest of the nation,” it said.
The Ministry outlined a fresh stakeholder engagement process that must be concluded before any decision on examination fees is made, signalling that the review has been delayed rather than permanently shelved.
The Ministry said it will engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders as part of the renewed consultation process.
It said the goal of the consultation is to ensure that any future decision is “fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing realities while safeguarding access to education,” framing the suspension as a course correction rather than an outright reversal of policy intent.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education,” the statement read.
The Ministry assured Nigerians it would keep the public fully informed throughout the consultation process, saying the welfare of students and equitable access to quality education “remain at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the education sector.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The examination fees of Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have been increased by the federal government by about 82 per cent to N50,000 from N27,500.
A circular signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, disclosed that the new fees would become effective in 2027.
In the notice, it was disclosed that the government approved the upward review of the fees following a request by WAEC.
It was further disclosed that the decision to jack up the fees was reached after a March 31, 2026, meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of N50,000 only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027,” it added.
**Modibbo Adama University Emerges Grand Prize Winner, Secures N50m
A leading integrated independent exploration and production company with full-cycle upstream delivery capability, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s next generation of engineers.
This commitment was highlighted during the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event recognised outstanding student innovators whose engineering solutions addressed real-world challenges, marking the culmination of months of regional qualifiers, prototype development, mentorship and boot camp sessions that equipped students from universities and polytechnics across Nigeria with practical skills in engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Olympiad attracted 984 participants across 375 teams from more than 80 tertiary institutions representing all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Delivering the sponsor’s address, the General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects, FIRST E&P, John Alamu, emphasised that the competition reflects the company’s commitment to equipping students with the practical knowledge and innovative mindset required to excel in engineering and strengthen Nigeria’s future workforce.
Alamu, noting that initiatives such as the Engineering Olympiad provide a structured platform for young talent to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions that contribute to the country’s technological and industrial advancement, stated that, “FIRST E&P believes that developing STEM capacity is an investment in this country’s ability to solve its own problems. The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad has taken young engineers and taught them to think beyond the drawing board, and FIRST E&P is proud to have been a funding partner for this initiative. I commend NCDMB for championing the Olympiad and Enactus Nigeria for successfully delivering a platform that is helping shape the next generation of Nigerian engineers and innovators.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Silas Ajimijaye, expressed appreciation to FIRST E&P for their unwavering support in successfully delivering the Olympiad.
Ajimijaye added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, which aims to build indigenous engineering capacity and equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to drive industrial competitiveness, technological advancement, and sustainable national development.
The competition concluded in the awarding of prizes, with Team Mavericks of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Adamawa State, winning the grand prize of N50 million and a Centre of Excellence building for its Faculty of Engineering.
The team’s winning innovation, Ubuntu Sapphire, is a community-powered rapid alert system that uses affordable devices to instantly notify neighbouring households and emergency responders during emergencies, offering a practical solution aimed at strengthening community security and emergency response infrastructure.
Speaking after receiving the award, Team Lead, Dr David Patrick, expressed gratitude to the organisers and sponsors for providing a platform that fostered innovation and practical learning.
The University of Ibadan emerged as the first runner-up, receiving N30 million and N75 million worth of engineering equipment for its Faculty of Engineering. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, secured third place and was awarded N20 million and N50 million worth of engineering equipment. The University of Jos finished fourth, receiving N10 million.
