By Hosanna Eseose
The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) on Monday marked the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja with different themes reflecting their respective priorities for the teaching profession.
The ceremony, held at Eagle Square, Abuja, brought together teachers, education stakeholders and government officials to commemorate the annual event.
While the NUT celebrated under the global theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing Its Status and Shaping Our Futures,” the Federal Ministry of Education adopted a national focus, “Transforming the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World.”
The national focus was built around five key pillars: innovation, teacher mobility, artificial intelligence (AI) in education, inclusion and professional excellence.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, assured Nigerian teachers of the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the teaching profession remained central to the Federal Government’s ongoing transformation of the education sector.
Alausa described teachers as “the most important people in Nigeria,” stressing that teaching remained one of the most important professions in any society.
“Teachers are the most important people in Nigeria. I thank you for your professionalism and I thank you for helping to build our nation. Thank you for your perseverance and devotion to our children. Thank you, thank you to all the teachers around the country,” the Minister said.
According to him, teachers had become a central part of the Federal Government’s education transformation agenda under the Renewed Hope Administration of President Tinubu.
“You have a president in the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that has your back,” Alausa told the gathering of teachers and other education stakeholders.
He said the President was transforming Nigeria’s education sector, assuring teachers that their contributions would not be forgotten but would receive greater recognition.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of teachers in shaping the future of the country, noting that the government’s education reforms were designed to strengthen the profession and improve the quality of learning across Nigeria.
