The Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has awarded about N120 million in prizes to outstanding teachers, school heads and schools as part of activities marking World Teachers’ Day.
The awards covered public and private basic and post-basic schools across the state and were presented in various categories.
A total of 29 outstanding principals and head teachers received N29 million, while 119 teachers shared N59.5 million.
Eleven serving and retired university lecturers received pioneer professorship recognition awards worth N22m while three schools received N9m under the Best Kept School Award category.
The Governor also announced plans to acquire shares in the Dangote Refinery initial public offering (IPO) for female teachers in outstanding public schools, as part of efforts to promote financial inclusion and an investment culture among women.
Governor AbdulRazaq said he had directed the state Head of Service, Dr Olufunke Mercy Shittu, to develop arrangements for retired female teachers to benefit from the initiative.
Teachers’ Welfare
He described teachers as key drivers of the education sector and pledged to sustain efforts to improve their welfare and working conditions.
He said the awards were intended to recognise teachers’ contributions and motivate them to do more.
“Our objective remains clear: to build an education system that gives every child in Kwara a fair opportunity to learn, develop useful skills and compete anywhere in the world,” Governor AbdulRazaq said.
He listed the recruitment of qualified teachers through merit-based processes, continuous professional development, improved school infrastructure and the use of technology and data through KwaraLEARN as some of his administration’s education reforms.
The Governor also cited regular teacher promotions and the implementation of the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Specific Allowance as part of measures to improve teachers’ welfare.
He said the interventions were producing results, pointing to the performance of Kwara pupils at national and international competitions.
2026 Promotion Exercise
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the state government had approved the 2026 promotion exercise for eligible teachers.
He announced that the promotion examination was scheduled for Saturday, describing Kwara as the first state in Nigeria to conduct the 2026 exercise.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, congratulated the award recipients and urged teachers to continue improving their professional skills and focusing on learning outcomes.
He assured teachers that the ministry would continue to engage stakeholders on welfare, professional development and working conditions.
Former Kwara State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Umar Farooq, who delivered the keynote address, urged government and other stakeholders to create environment that would enable teachers to succeed.
He said supporting teachers should be regarded as an investment in children, communities and society.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Yusuf Wahab Agboola, also commended the government’s investment in school infrastructure and teachers’ welfare.
He called for the implementation of the national harmonised retirement age for teachers.
The event was attended by government officials, education administrators, NUT representatives, labour leaders and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.
