Follow Us on Google
From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa Ibom state governor pastor Umo Eno has announced major interventions in education sector with recruitment of additional 2,000 teachers and payment of N50,000 wardrobe allowance to 20,000 teachers in the state .
Other interventions in education by the governor Umo Eno include immediate constitution of an emergency education committee to undertake holistic reforms in the sector, retention of teachers as well as mandate to the Deputy Governor Mrs Akon Eyakenyi and Secretary to the State Government Prince Enobong Uwah to work out measures aimed at raising the standard of education across the state.
Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital during the 2026 celebration of World Teachers’ Day on the theme” Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing It’s Status and Shaping Our Future” , Eno also directed an inter-ministerial committee to take over construction of teachers’ House along IBB Avenue and ensure completion within six months.
Eno while declaring a state emergency in education sector announced another ₦500,000 intervention in each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state to enable them extend the gesture to their teachers.
He explained that the interventions were part of his administration’s commitment to reward teachers, improve their welfare and strengthen the education system adding that his administration believes that teachers’ rewards begin here on earth contrary to old belief that teachers reward is in heaven.
” Education remained a major pillar of this administration’s governance blueprint which represent the letter “E” in the ARISE Agenda.
” Since May 29, 2023, this administration had renewed attention to basic and post-basic pre-tertiary education
” This administration had constructed and furnished 38 model primary schools, at least one in each local government area, with facilities including solar power, ICT centres, sick bays, libraries, assembly halls and teachers’ residences
“Akwa Ibom state had consistently met its counterpart funding obligations to the State Universal Basic Education Broad (SUBEB)
” This administration had now committed ₦15 billion as counterpart funding, with SUBEB interventions reaching more than 100 schools in the state”
Eno disclosed that the government had sustained free and compulsory education policy and consistently paid WAEC and NECO examination fees for Akwa Ibom indigene adding that 172,000 candidates have been registered for these examinations.
He noted that the recently passed law to transform Akwa Ibom State College of Education into University of Education would soon become operational and announced Professor Philip Afaha as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor to commence accreditation processes and assured that other members of the governing council of the university would be announced before the end of the week.
He encouraged teachers across the tertiary, secondary, primary, nursery and private-school sectors to continued to support government as his administration would not play politics with education.
Addressing newly recruited teachers, Governor Eno said the government had earlier approved the recruitment of 1,000 teachers and had now approved another 2,000, with the recruitment portal open for applications.
He urged applicants to familiarise themselves with the civil service rules as performance at an oral interview alone would not guarantee employment adding that dressing, conduct and other considerations would be assessed.
He thanked teachers for their support and endorsement of his administration, as well as their support for President Bola Tinubu and Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and called for continued partnership in building a knowledge-driven and excellent society.
“If you are able to read this, thank your teacher. I align myself with Malala Yousafzai’s famous description of the transformative power of education, that one child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world
“Where will you be without a teacher? Teachers represent knowledge and remain central to the development of society”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers , Akwa Ibom State Wing, Comrade Edet Emenyi described the celebration as an epoch-making event and commended Governor Eno for personally honouring teachers and sustaining policies that had improved their welfare.
The NUT chairman, on behalf of teachers in the state, endorsed Governor Eno for a second term, describing teachers as developers of the state and the nation.
In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the National President of the NUT, Comrade Audu Titus Amba,represented at the event by the 12th Vice-President, Comrade Ofonime Ekanem, described the 2026 celebration as unique and called for improved welfare and a new minimum wage for teachers.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Aniedi Usoro, Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Uyo, said standing with teachers and shaping the future required sustained investment in teachers’ welfare, training and professional development.
” I commend Governor Umo Eno for providing staff quarters in the model schools and I urge government to do more on teachers’ welfare as an investment in the future of the state” .
