Education remains the indispensable cornerstone upon which the edifice of any progressive, developed, and truly transformed society is built. Learning is not merely an act of acquiring facts; it is a gradual, phased evolution of the mind that drives human advancement, fuels research, and fortifies the vital institutions that sustain civilisation. In an increasingly complex global landscape that thirsts for knowledge and innovative solutions, the processes of teaching and learning cannot be treated as passive activities. History has shown that genuine development is entirely impossible in an environment marked by the absence of learning; therefore, as we build for the future, we must first recognise education as the fundamental oxygen for our collective survival.
 
In our pursuit to mark this year's World Teachers’ Day, we must deeply reflect on the enormous struggles and unique challenges faced by teachers, both within Nigeria and internationally. Unarguably, teachers are the true molders of nations, the silent architects of our collective intellectual future, and the foundational pillars of economic productivity. Despite bearing the heavy responsibility of shaping the minds that will eventually navigate and lead industries and countries, their immense contributions often receive disproportionately low acknowledgement, credit, and prestige. Today, we celebrate these unsung heroes who work tirelessly and sacrificially, sometimes in the most difficult and under-resourced environments, to ensure the light of knowledge is never extinguished.
 
I have been a tutor myself, and I find profound personal fulfillment in the crucial task of training and mentoring young ones. My direct experience in pedagogy and educational administration, both in Nigeria and internationally, has solidified my lifelong ambition and unyielding investment in building the younger generation to become the very best in their life choices and other diverse human endeavours. Having been trained by the very best of teachers, I have actively tried to replicate that standard of excellence through the teachers I employ in my own established school here and through my work abroad. My commitment to education is not theoretical; it is a practical devotion that forms a core part of my civic identity.
 
The struggle to build people, beginning from the painstaking efforts of those who taught us from infancy, is not an easy feat. It demands an extraordinary measure of sacrifice, hard work, commitment, and patience that can only be sustained by the informed, the well-trained, and the emotionally intelligent. Because we cannot pretend to leave our teachers isolated in these struggles and assume that indeed all will be well, this country must urgently prioritise the comprehensive encouragement and support of our educators across board. We owe our teachers a lot; and this nation must respond by ensuring they are properly and competitively remunerated, continuously trained, and fully supported to effectively deliver in the moral and intellectual upbringing of our children.
 
Quite frankly, we need more robust and innovative policies directed toward the holistic development of our education sector to ensure that teaching and learning environments create a sustainable win-win situation for both the teachers and the taught. We must move beyond superficial celebratory statements and engage in concrete action to boost the welfare and professional dignity of those in the teaching profession. I identify with our commitments and struggles this long, and again urge both the government and private sector to invest heavily in modern educational infrastructure and policy frameworks that attract and retain the brightest minds to the noble art of teaching. We have a choice to make; to ignore the teacher is to jeopardise the nation; but to empower the teacher is to secure the future of generations to come.
 
~ Dr. Adewale Kolapo Kareem (AKK)
Former Oyo State Governorship Aspirant
APC… PROGRESS!
AKK! Aseyori ni tiwa
AKK!! Ajọṣe, Ajoje
AKK!!! A Task That Must Be Done.
Monday, October 5 2026.