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…AI, innovation, inclusion, mobility, professional excellence top agenda
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled a five-pillar agenda aimed at transforming the teaching profession and repositioning education to meet the demands of Africa’s changing future, with emphasis on innovation, teacher mobility, artificial intelligence, inclusion and professional excellence.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at a press briefing to herald activities marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration and President’s Teachers’ and Schools Excellence Awards (PTSEA) on the theme, “Transforming the Teaching Profession for Africa’s Future.”
Ahmad said the theme was designed to encourage a rethinking of education across the continent, particularly as technology and artificial intelligence reshape teaching and learning.
She said the innovation pillar would promote creative teaching methods, digital tools and locally relevant solutions, while mobility would encourage teacher exchange programmes, cross-border collaboration and flexible career pathways for sharing expertise.
According to her, artificial intelligence would also be leveraged for personalised learning, data-driven decision-making and reducing teachers’ administrative burdens, while ensuring that its application remained ethical and inclusive.
The minister said the inclusion pillar would focus on ensuring equitable access to quality education for learners irrespective of gender, ability, socio-economic status or location.
She added that professional excellence would seek to elevate the status of teachers through continuous professional development, fair remuneration, supportive policies and greater recognition of teachers’ leadership roles in shaping Africa’s future.
Ahmad noted that the Federal Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), coordinates the annual World Teachers’ Day celebration, while state ministries of education facilitate the nomination process for the awards.
She disclosed that, for the first time, the teacher selection process coordinated by the ministry had been digitalised, in line with African Union guidelines, to enhance transparency, accountability, security and proper documentation.
She said the process was facilitated by state ministries of education.
The minister further disclosed that 14 awardees would be honoured under the 2026 World Teachers’ Day and PTSEA, with the first, second and third-best teachers receiving cars, while the best Federal Unity College would receive a bus. Other awardees, she said, would receive laptops.
Ahmad said activities lined up for the celebration included a symposium where heads of education agencies would examine the various pillars of the year’s theme.
She added that teachers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would also participate in a colourful march-past, displaying their respective flags and cultural attire to symbolise dedication, unity, diversity and cooperation.
The minister further acknowledged the contributions of government agencies, states, organisations and individuals to the annual celebration, saying such support had helped the Federal Ministry of Education reward teachers contributing to the transformation of the profession.
Earlier, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Amba, represented by the NUT Deputy President, Comrade Kizito Kalu, stressed the need to keep teachers at the centre of education despite the rapid growth of technology and artificial intelligence.
Amba said the changing education landscape, driven by technology, AI, changing societal expectations and new approaches to teaching and learning, made it imperative for government and other stakeholders to strengthen the teaching profession.
He said a strong education system could not be built without a strong, respected and adequately supported teaching profession.
According to him, technological advancement should be accompanied by investment in teachers’ capacity to navigate emerging technologies with confidence and competence.
“The future of education must therefore be a future in which teachers are empowered to adapt, innovate and continue to exercise their professional judgment,” he said.
The NUT president commended the Federal Ministry of Education for its partnership with the union, particularly in organising the annual World Teachers’ Day activities.
He said the union remained committed to constructive engagement with government, education agencies, development partners and other stakeholders towards building a teaching profession capable of responding to the demands of a rapidly changing world.
He expressed confidence that the symposium would deepen understanding of the challenges confronting teachers and generate perspectives for addressing them.
