The Federal Government has inaugurated the committee that will organise Nigeria’s 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration and oversee the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards, signalling the start of preparations for this year’s national recognition of outstanding educators.
The committee, inaugurated in Abuja by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, is expected to coordinate activities leading to the October 5 celebration, including the nomination, screening and verification of award candidates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the inauguration, Enitan described teachers as the foundation of the country’s education system, saying Nigeria’s ambition to build a skilled and competitive workforce depends largely on a well-supported teaching profession.
He urged members of the committee to ensure that the selection process reflects fairness, transparency, accountability and merit, stressing that the credibility of the awards would depend on public confidence in the process.
Beyond selecting award recipients, the committee will also develop the programme for the national celebration, mobilise partnerships with stakeholders and establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the implementation of its activities.
Director of Education Support Services at the ministry, Mr Amudipe Gabriel Oluwole, said the inauguration formally marks the commencement of preparations for the 2026 celebration, which is expected to recognise exceptional teachers and schools across the country.
Representatives of key education agencies and stakeholders, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and development partners, pledged to support a transparent and credible award process.
The committee comprises officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, education agencies, professional bodies and development partners, reflecting what the ministry described as a collaborative effort to strengthen the teaching profession and improve education outcomes nationwide.
