FG Offers Cars, Laptops to Outstanding Teachers on World Teachers’ Day

FG Offers Cars, Laptops to Outstanding Teachers on World Teachers’ Day

The Federal Government has announced plans to reward outstanding teachers and schools with cars, laptops and other gifts as part of activities marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a news conference and symposium held ahead of the October 5 celebration.

Ahmad said 14 awardees would be recognised under the 2026 World Teachers’ Day and President’s Teachers’ and Schools Excellence Awards.

She explained that the first, second and third-best teachers would receive cars, while the best Federal Unity College would be presented with a bus.

Other award recipients, she added, would receive laptops in recognition of their outstanding performance and contribution to education.

The 2026 celebration is being held under the theme, “Transforming the Teaching Profession for Africa’s Future.”

According to the minister, the theme focuses on five areas shaping the future of education: innovation, mobility, artificial intelligence, inclusion and professional excellence.

Ahmad said the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, coordinates the annual celebration, while state ministries of education facilitate the nomination of teachers and schools for the awards.

She disclosed that the selection process for this year’s awards had been digitalised for the first time, in line with African Union guidelines.

The minister said the new system was introduced to improve transparency, accountability, safety and proper documentation throughout the selection process.

She explained that applicants no longer needed to travel from different parts of the country to submit physical documents, as applications could now be received, assessed and scored electronically.

Ahmad also disclosed that the Federal Government had developed a policy aimed at attracting and retaining highly qualified professionals in the teaching profession.

She said the policy, approved in 2025 and distributed to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, contains strategies for attracting quality personnel, improving teachers’ welfare and encouraging retention.

“The policy was approved 2025 and has been disseminated to 36 plus FCT. In that policy, there are clear guidelines, there are clear directions and strategy for ensuring that we attract the best,” she said.

The minister said the policy would target prospective teachers even before they enter the profession, including through scholarship opportunities.

She added that steps would also be taken to improve the welfare of teachers already serving in schools.

Ahmad, however, stressed that effective implementation would require the cooperation of state governments because education is on the concurrent legislative list and most teachers are employed by state governments.

She noted that the Federal Government has limited direct control over teachers because Federal Unity Colleges account for only a small proportion of schools across the country.

Also speaking at the event, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, represented by the Deputy President, Elder Comrade Kizito Kalu, called for greater investment in preparing teachers for the changing education environment.

Amba said technological advancement, artificial intelligence and changing societal expectations were transforming teaching and learning across the world.

He stressed that these developments should be used to strengthen teachers’ professional capacity rather than diminish their role in education.

“The NUT believes that a strong education system cannot be built without a strong, respected and adequately supported teaching profession,” he said.

The NUT president called for sustained investment in helping teachers understand and use emerging technologies while adapting to new demands in the classroom.

He said teachers must remain at the centre of education and be empowered to innovate, adapt and exercise professional judgment as technology and artificial intelligence continue to influence learning.

Amba also commended the Federal Ministry of Education for its continued partnership with the union in organising World Teachers’ Day activities.

Earlier, the Director of Education Support Services in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Gabriel Oluwole, said the ministry had introduced a fully automated system for selecting the 2026 award recipients.

Oluwole said the exercise covered the Best Teacher, Best School and Best Administrator categories across basic and secondary education.

He added that public and private schools, as well as Federal Unity Colleges across the country, were included in the selection process.

According to him, the digital system would eliminate the need for hard-copy applications while strengthening safety, transparency and accountability.

Teachers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are expected to participate in the World Teachers’ Day celebration, which will also feature a colourful march-past in state flags and cultural attire.