By Olayinka Latona

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have called on the government at all levels to prioritise teachers’ welfare and professional development as a crucial step towards building a thriving and globally competitive nation.

The appeal was made at an educational summit themed “Educating for Impact: Unleashing Teacher Potential for National Development,” organised by Upskill Educational Initiative LTD/GTE at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

Speakers at the summit unanimously agreed that repositioning the teaching profession through better welfare, training, and recognition would enhance educational outcomes and fast-track national development.

In his keynote presentation, Mr. Foluso Phillips, Founder and Executive Chairman of Phillips Consulting Ltd, described poor remuneration, lack of training, outdated technology, and a general decline in public respect as key challenges undermining the teaching profession in Nigeria.

“Teaching is no longer a deliberate vocation, but often a fallback option,” Phillips lamented. “This lack of intentionality affects passion, commitment, and ultimately, student outcomes. To attract the best minds, we must position teaching as a prestigious, first-choice career.”

He urged the government and private sector stakeholders to offer competitive scholarships to high-performing students for teacher education, expose educators to cutting-edge training and technology, and institute high-profile awards that elevate the status of the profession.

“The teaching profession should be a career to be proud of,” he said. “Educators must be empowered as highly respected professionals with the expertise to shape the nation’s future.”

Chairman of the event, Sir Demola Aladekomo, also emphasised the critical need for an improved reward system and better remuneration for teachers. He stated that the foundation of any strong educational system lies in the quality and welfare of its teachers.

In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, stressed that significant investment in teacher training was essential for systemic improvement in education.

“When people want to support the education system, they focus on students. But for lasting impact, we must invest in teachers,” she said. “Just as good doctors improve health outcomes, well-trained teachers are the key to better education year after year.”

Ogunsola also called for the implementation of robust reward systems to retain and motivate teaching professionals.

In her opening address, Founder and Executive Director of Upskill Educational Initiative, Mrs. Olapeju Sofowora, highlighted the summit’s goal of drawing national attention to the vital role of teachers in achieving developmental goals. She also unveiled three new teacher development curricula designed to equip educators for 21st-century challenges with a strong emphasis on research and technology.

Upskill Educational Initiative is a non-profit organisation committed to transforming Nigeria’s education system by empowering teachers with the skills, tools, and knowledge needed to shape the nation’s future leaders.

As the summit concluded, participants echoed a shared belief: no nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.