By Omoyeni Ojeifo, Abuja
The Convener of the “Let There Be Teachers” initiative, Mr. Anifowose Oluwaseyi, has called for stronger collaboration between government, private sector stakeholders, and development partners to improve the welfare and professional development of teachers in the country.
He made the call for a change while unveiling a roadmap to fix the teaching profession’s biggest hurdles—specifically burnout, retention, and a lack of resources.
According to Anifowose, the goal is to reposition teachers as national leaders, asserting that “supported teachers are the foundation of a quality education.”
“The success of education reform depends largely on how well teachers are supported, empowered, and positioned to deliver effectively,” Persecondnews correspondent at the event quotes Anifowose as saying.
He disclosed plans for a digital support platform designed to connect teachers with opportunities for professional development, welfare assistance, and access to relevant resources to support their daily work.
He said the platform will serve as a bridge between teachers and support systems across both public and private sectors.
He also announced a Graduate Teacher Scholarship programme aimed at strengthening teacher training institutions and improving the quality of teacher preparation in Nigeria.
According to him, the initiative seeks to ensure that graduates entering the classroom are properly trained and equipped for effective teaching.
“Teaching must be a profession of choice, not a fallback option, and we must invest in preparing the best to teach the best,” he said.
He urged stakeholders across all sectors to support the initiative, noting that sustainable improvement in education requires shared responsibility among government, private organisations, civil society, and the teaching community.
Persecondnews reports that the conference attracted a broad spectrum of stakeholders from across the education sector, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, private school proprietors, development partners, civil society organisations, and teacher groups.
Participants also included school administrators, education advocates, as well as elderly and retired teachers who were ably represented, contributing to discussions on reforms and teacher welfare.
The event saw an impressive turnout from across Nigeria and the FCT, signaling a clear national consensus – repositioning the teaching profession is now a top priority.
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