… urges teachers nationwide to renew commitment to service, professionalism, patriotism
…assures of Federal Government’s continued support
By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
The Federal Government has declared that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and other technologies will not diminish the importance of teachers, insisting that the human judgement, encouragement and personal connection provided by educators remain indispensable to effective learning
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this Monday, in Abuja, while marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day and the President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards, PTSEA
Alausa, who spoke on the theme “Protecting and Advancing the Status of the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World”, said Nigeria must prepare teachers to harness emerging technologies without compromising the professional standards and values of teaching
His declaration came as education systems globally grapple with the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence, digital learning tools and rapidly changing skills requirements
According to the minister, while technology and AI can expand access to knowledge and help teachers tailor instruction to individual learners, machines cannot replace the human qualities at the heart of teaching
“These tools can help teachers reach learners and tailor instruction, but the judgement, encouragement and human connection of a skilled teacher remain indispensable,” he said
He stressed the need to equip educators with the knowledge and skills required to use emerging technologies responsibly and confidently, while protecting the integrity and professional identity of the teaching profession
Alausa described teachers as the foundation upon which every other profession is built, saying no doctor, engineer, scientist, entrepreneur or public servant could have attained professional success without the intervention of teachers
He said the annual celebration should therefore go beyond ceremonial recognition to sustained investment in the people responsible for preparing Nigeria’s next generation
“Every doctor, engineer, scientist, entrepreneur and public servant has benefited from a teacher and could not have become what they are today without teachers,” the minister said
“When we honour teachers, we honour the people who make every other profession possible”
He said teachers deserved professional respect, continuous career development, appropriate teaching resources, fair recognition and working conditions that would enable them to perform effectively
The minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had placed teachers and learners at the centre of its education reform agenda, with emphasis on improving learning environments, strengthening institutions, developing skills for a changing economy, improving education data and enhancing teacher welfare and professional development
According to him, the Federal Government would continue working with state governments and other stakeholders to improve the conditions under which teachers operate
He stressed that a child’s educational opportunity should not depend on geography, family income or circumstances
Whether in an urban school or a remote rural community, he said, every teacher should have the tools and institutional support required to help learners succeed
Alausa said the government could not undertake the task alone, noting that state governments, school leaders, professional bodies, organised labour, development partners, communities and parents all had roles to play in strengthening teacher preparation, development and recognition
The minister also used the occasion to call for renewed national respect for the teaching profession, saying the work of educators demanded more than one-day appreciation
He said the profession required sustained respect, investment and partnership throughout the year
“Your service calls for more than words of thanks on one day each year It calls for sustained respect, investment and partnership through each day of the year,” Alausa told Nigerian teachers.
He noted that millions of Nigerian children enter classrooms every school day with hopes, talents, questions and dreams, placing an enormous responsibility on teachers to transform their potential into opportunities
“That responsibility deserves our respect, support and national recognition,” he said
The minister also congratulated recipients of the 2026 President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards, describing the recognition as a demonstration that teaching excellence deserves the highest national regard
He said the awards were designed to celebrate outstanding teachers, school administrators and schools for professionalism, innovation and leadership
Alausa urged the award winners to see their recognition not merely as a personal achievement but as a responsibility to inspire others and promote higher standards across the education system
He equally reassured teachers who did not receive awards that their contributions remained valuable to the nation
“Every lesson you prepare, every child you encourage and every young person whose confidence you build matters to Nigeria’s future,” he said
The minister’s message ultimately centred on the need to ensure that technological transformation strengthens rather than weakens the teaching profession
He said the government would continue to pursue reforms aimed at protecting the dignity of teachers, advancing their professional standing and ensuring that they were adequately equipped to operate in a rapidly changing world
Alausa urged teachers nationwide to renew their commitment to service, professionalism and patriotism, while assuring them of the Federal Government’s continued support
He said the administration’s education reforms were anchored on the conviction that “a child’s opportunities must not be limited by geography, family income or circumstance”
As Nigeria marked World Teachers’ Day, the minister said the nation must recognise that the future of millions of children remained closely tied to the quality, dignity and preparedness of the teachers standing before them in classrooms across the country