World Teachers Day: You’re Critical to Nation Building, Says Obi

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has encouraged all the teachers in Nigeria to remain committed to the task of nation building, by discharging their duties diligently, and showing good examples to their students, and society at large.

Obi, in a statement by his media aide, Michael Jude Nwolisa, explained that there could not be any true development in society without the immeasurable contributions of teachers.

He made the remarks in his message to mark World Teachers Day 2023, reiterating that at the foundation of the development of any society was human capital development, which could only be achieved through education and immeasurable contribution of teachers.

“The great rigor, hard work, patience and dedication most teachers in different schools and institutions, especially at the basic level, put into their work to ensure that their students can become the best in learning and character, deserve commendation.

“I have always celebrated teachers in Nigeria, whenever the opportunity comes. For example, Mr Akeem Badru, who won the 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award.

“I have also maintained that the government should begin to celebrate Nigerian teachers, who through hardwork and dedication, have distinguished themselves in many ways, rather than celebrating individuals, who contribute to the challenges facing us a nation,” he added.

Furthermore, Obi revealed that while serving in Anambra State, his administration would not have been able to achieve the many feats they recorded in the education sector in Anambra State, without the devotion and commitment of teachers in the State.

“We need to revolutionalise education in the nation, by aggressively reducing the present 22 million out-of-school children and bringing them back to schools. This, we can achieve by making more investment in education and employing more teachers,” Obi said.