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COE Lecturer task govts to prioritise teachers’ welfare to fast-track socio-economic development
International Director of Africa Campus Transformation Initiative, ACTI and senior lecturer with TCNN College of Education, Bukuru, Jos Pastor Hankuri Gaya has urged governments at all levels to prioritise teachers’ welfare to fast-track Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Gaya stated this at the closing of the one-week Bukuru Teachers Summit 2023, within the theme, “A Teacher with a Mission held in Jos said teachers were the key to any country’s development.
According to the educationist, if every country goes the way of its teachers, and they are well equipped to practice their profession, such a country will have a direction.
He also said that education was no doubt the key to success in the life of every individual, especially if teachers made a lasting impact in the lives of those they were given the responsibility of imparting knowledge.
He said sadly however, teachers were not valued in Nigeria, considering their poor remuneration and welfare.
“If teachers are not valued, there will be no values in our society, hence the moral decadence that we witness today in this country. There is a popular saying that a gun can kill terrorists, but only education can kill terrorism.
“So, if you value teachers, you will pay them well, you will respect them, you will give them good accommodation where they can be stable. And with that setup, what will happen to them, they will teach well, they will invest better in our students, and you are sure to have a better future.
“Just imagine that somebody is teaching for a month, and he/she is paid N9,000, even N7000, how much would he/she use for transportation alone?
“Many of them have children and they can’t take care of them, how do you expect them to give their best,’’ he asked.
Deputy Provost of the college, Mrs Tarphena Dashan, in her address at the event, said that the Bukuru Teachers Summit was anchored on one of the courses in the college, known as Teaching for Transformation.
According to Dashan, the summit was aimed at helping teachers rediscover themselves and their dignity in the teaching profession.
The deputy provost further stated that the summit was also to equip them with hands-on skills in teaching and also creating wealth.
“The programme also focuses on raising teachers with a mission; teachers that will transform the teaching profession in Nigeria.
“We believe we are training teachers with a difference because we focus on spiritual values that would impact young students and pupils.
“We realise that the teaching profession has been bastardised; we realise that there are many people who are teaching, but don’t have any business being in the classroom.
“But here we are intentionally trying to redirect the thinking of this young student that we have, that teaching is a noble profession.
“And that teaching is a calling and they should embrace the profession with a passion. They should aim to make a great difference in the lives of the learners that they’re going to come into contact with,’’ she added.
One of the students Mr Samuel Nansel,
who participated in the summit, said he had learnt a lot from the event, and thanked their teachers for the initiative.
Nansel said that in addition to the teaching profession, he had acquired a skill in how to make shoes.
“I believe this will serve as another source of income for me, and I will help others while I practice my profession as a teacher,” he stated.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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