The Federal Government has inaugurated the Planning and Implementation Committee for the 2026 World Teachers’ Day Celebration and the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards, reaffirming its commitment to recognising and rewarding outstanding teachers while strengthening the teaching profession as a critical pillar of national development.
Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, described teachers as the bedrock of sustainable educational development, stressing that Nigeria’s human capital aspirations depend on a motivated, qualified and professionally supported teaching workforce.
The Permanent Secretary said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s resolve to celebrate excellence, promote professionalism and improve learning outcomes. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to quality, inclusive and equitable education, noting that Nigeria has commemorated World Teachers’ Day since 2012 in line with the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), particularly on increasing the supply of qualified, motivated and well-supported teachers.
He charged members to uphold fairness, transparency, integrity, accountability and merit, stressing that the credibility of the awards depends on objective processes. He said the committee would strengthen the assessment framework, coordinate nominations, screening and verification of candidates from the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, develop the programme for the 5 October 2026 celebration, prepare implementation documents, coordinate stakeholder engagement and publicity, mobilise strategic partnerships, and establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of Education Support Services, Mr. Amudipe Gabriel Oluwole, described the inauguration as the formal commencement of preparations for the 2026 World Teachers’ Day Celebration and President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards. He said the programme would recognise the dedication and outstanding contributions of teachers while promoting excellence across the education sector. He appreciated the Permanent Secretary’s leadership and commended Ministries, Departments and Agencies, professional bodies, development partners and other stakeholders for accepting to serve on the committee.
Speaking on behalf of stakeholders, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Salisu Shehu, said no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. He noted that despite advances in artificial intelligence, teachers remain indispensable and called for sustained efforts to motivate, support and protect them.
Representatives of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), development partners and other stakeholders commended the Federal Ministry of Education for commencing preparations early and pledged their support towards ensuring a transparent, credible and merit-based implementation of the programme.
The committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, its agencies, professional bodies, development partners and other key stakeholders, reflecting the Federal Government’s commitment to an inclusive and collaborative process that will deliver a successful 2026 World Teachers’ Day Celebration and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda for quality education and human capital development.
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
