Teachers’ rewards no longer in heaven, says First Lady

By Joseph Erunke

Abuja—First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, yesterday declared that the era of unrecognised sacrifice in the teaching profession was over, assuring Nigerian teachers that their rewards were now tangible and visible.

She made the declaration while officially opening the National Teachers’ Summit 2026 in Abuja, an event that brought together educators, policymakers, development partners and other key stakeholders in the education sector.

Her remarks came as the Federal Government unveiled a sweeping reform agenda to empower teachers through incentives, digital tools and a new nationwide professional development framework.

Addressing participants, the First Lady described teachers as the “quiet architects of great nations,” whose dedication shaped young minds, instilled values and nurtured hope for the future.

“I am delighted to join you at this National Teachers’ Summit, a gathering of teachers and education professionals whose commitment lays the foundation for our nation’s future,” she said to a loud applause.

The summit, themed, “Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,” drew senior government officials, education leaders, union executives and teachers from across the federation.

Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the federal government has placed teachers at the heart of national renewal.

Alausa stressed that the future of Nigeria begins in the classroom, noting that no reform would succeed unless teachers were empowered, motivated and respected.

He described the summit as a defining moment for the education sector, and called for courage, clarity and deliberate action to reposition teaching as a noble and strategic profession.

A major highlight of the event was the unprecedented financial reward for excellence in teaching, following a transparent and merit-based selection process.

Twelve outstanding teachers, six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national finalists from nominations across the 36 states and the FCT.

Each of the finalists received N25 million, while the overall winner went home with N50 million, a move Alausa described as a national signal that teaching truly mattered.

The minister also unveiled EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated continuous professional development programme designed to revitalise teachers’ training across the country.

He explained that while EduRevamp was open to both public and private school teachers, performance-based incentives under the programme would be reserved for certified public school teachers.

Alausa further outlined complementary initiatives, including Ignite, a teacher-centred digital platform, and the Diaspora Bridge, which connects Nigerian teachers with global experts to strengthen STEMM education.

He disclosed that 60,000 tablets had been provided for teachers, alongside zero-data access to approved platforms, and that the TRCN digital system had been strengthened for registration and career tracking.

On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said no nation would rise above the quality of its teachers, stressing that empowerment and professional growth were central to sustainable education reform.

She noted that the summit would help shape the future of teaching and learning in Nigeria, as participants continue high-level deliberations to strengthen the education system nationwide.

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