Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have felicitated Nigerian teachers on World Teachers’ Day, calling for urgent investment in education and improved welfare for educators.
In a statement marking the annual celebration on October 5, Obi described teaching as one of the most important professions in society, saying teachers do more than impart knowledge—they shape minds, nurture character and prepare future citizens and leaders.
He commended teachers for their resilience, dedication and sacrifices, often made amid difficult socio-economic conditions.
Obi urged authorities to prioritise the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, provide conducive working environments and equip schools with the tools needed for effective learning.
According to him, Nigeria cannot effectively tackle out-of-school children, unemployment, poverty and underdevelopment without making sustained investments in education.
“Education must therefore receive greater priority in our national planning and budgeting, with teachers and educational infrastructure receiving the attention they deserve,” Obi said.
He urged Nigerian teachers to remain steadfast and hopeful, adding that building a better Nigeria begins with investing in its people.
Atiku, in a separate message, described teachers as builders of confidence, knowledge and opportunity, warning that Nigeria could not secure its future while neglecting those responsible for educating its children.
“My promise is clear: I will work to make life affordable again. Teachers and families should not have to watch their incomes disappear on food, transport, rent and electricity,” Atiku said.
He promised to pursue policies aimed at reducing the cost of living, supporting decent jobs and ensuring that hard work translates into a dignified life.
Atiku thanked teachers across the country for their service and urged Nigerians to match their public praise with meaningful support and improved living conditions.
Both leaders’ messages centred on the need to restore dignity to the teaching profession and make education a central pillar of Nigeria’s development agenda.