World Teachers’ Day: Ondo State NUT Calls For Better Career Path, Welfare, Digital Training for Ondo Teachers
Leke: Investing in Teachers Is Investing in the Future of Ondo State
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ondo State Wing, has called on the Ondo State Government to strengthen teachers’ welfare, improve career progression, provide continuous professional development and equip educators with the skills required to meet the demands of the 21st-century classroom.
The State Chairman of the union, Comrade Ayodele Samuel Leke, made the call on Monday, October 5, 2026, while delivering his address at the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held in Akure, Ondo State.
Speaking on the theme, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures,” Leke said the occasion provided an opportunity not only to celebrate teachers but also to reflect on the future of the teaching profession and the quality of education in the state.
According to him, teachers deserve a clearly defined, rewarding and progressive career path, stressing that qualified teachers who acquire additional qualifications and demonstrate professional competence should be given appropriate opportunities for advancement.
He particularly appealed to the state government to review policies and practices that may unnecessarily limit the career progression of graduate teachers in the primary education sector. He also called for the appointment of Headmaster-Generals for the primary education sector, saying such a structure would enhance coordination, supervision, professional leadership and representation within primary schools.
The NUT chairman further emphasised the urgent need for continuous professional development, noting that rapid changes in digital technology, artificial intelligence, teaching methodologies, climate-related challenges and evolving learning needs have transformed the modern classroom.
Leke urged the government to institutionalise regular and accessible training programmes for teachers and strengthen collaboration with professional bodies, teacher-training institutions and development partners to prepare educators for the demands of contemporary education.
On digital transformation, the NUT leader said technology should be deployed to strengthen rather than diminish the role of teachers, calling for increased investment in digital literacy, internet connectivity, ICT facilities and appropriate training for educators across Ondo State.
He also stressed the importance of teachers’ welfare, saying educators, as human beings, require adequate care, encouragement and institutional support to perform effectively. He advocated stronger teacher-support programmes, including counselling, wellness initiatives and other measures that would promote the physical, psychological and professional well-being of teachers.
Leke called for stronger collaboration among government, teachers’ unions, parents, school administrators, traditional institutions, religious organisations, civil society groups and communities, maintaining that the responsibility for building a strong teaching profession cannot rest on teachers alone.
He assured that the NUT would continue to engage the Ondo State Government constructively through dialogue, consultation and mutual understanding, while responsibly presenting the concerns of its members and seeking solutions to challenges confronting the education sector.
The NUT chairman also reaffirmed the commitment of teachers to professionalism, discipline, integrity and dedication to duty, promising that educators would continue to nurture pupils, inspire learning, embrace innovation and prepare young people to become responsible citizens.
Leke, who congratulated teachers across Ondo State on the celebration, declared that every successful society is built through education and that the quality, commitment and welfare of teachers remain central to the success of any education system.
He therefore called for the recruitment of more qualified teachers, improved working conditions, stronger teacher welfare, opportunities for career advancement, continuous professional development and adequate staffing of schools.
“Investing in teachers is investing in the future of Ondo State,” he stressed, while calling on all stakeholders to continue supporting educators and the education sector.
He expressed appreciation to the Almighty God for His faithfulness, protection and preservation, and prayed for wisdom and courage for leaders to take decisions that would advance education in Ondo State.
The NUT State Chairman ended by congratulating teachers on the 2026 World Teachers’ Day and wishing the union, teachers across Ondo State and Nigeria continued progress and success.