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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has ignored request made by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for the implementation of the new national retirement age for their members.
Chairman of NUT in the state, Mrs. Chika Chukwudozie, made the request while presenting her address on the occasion of this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebration held at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital.
“Mr. Governor, permit me to recall that the new retirement age of 65 years and service year of 40 years for teachers is a National Assembly Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2022, and we are aware that you are a Governor who believes in the rule of law.
“Therefore, your teachers passionately plead with you sir to implement this new retirement age for Anambra teachers,” she requested.
The NUJ chairman also requested for the recruitment of more qualified teachers, saying that the public schools in the state didn’t have enough teachers.
“We immensely appreciate your efforts in the recruitment of teachers but we have noted that there are still shortages of teachers in our schools due to yearly retirement of teachers,” she further requested.
Responding, the governor recounted some of his achievements in the education sector but kept mum on the most important request tabled before him by the teachers.
Soludo, however, praised them for their dedication to duty and their recent awards at the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award (PTSEA) held last Sunday as part of events to mark the 2025 World Teacher’s Day at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
The governor also rewarded the award winners with different amounts of money for their outstanding achievements, even as he urged them to keep up the good work.
The awards won by Anambra schools are the Overall Best School in Nigeria (Woliwo Primary School II Onitsha); First Runner-up, Best Approved Private School in Nigeria (Pinkberry International School Odume, Obosi), and First Runner-up, Approved Private Senior Secondary School in Nigeria (Emmanuel Ndibe of St. Theresa’s Secondary School Enugwu Ukwu).
Others are the first-runner up, Best Approved Private Primary School Teacher in Nigeria (Nkechi Ikedi of Pinkbery International Primary School Odume, Obosi); First Runner-up, Best Public Junior Secondary School in Nigeria (Girls’ Secondary School, Ojoto), and First Runner-up, Best Public Primary School Teacher in Nigeria (Cosmas Nwata of Igbariam Farm Settlement Primary School).
The remaining awards are the First Runner-up, Best Public Senior Secondary School Administrator in Nigeria (Amaka Ubaka of Prince Memorial Secondary School, Onitsha); First Runner-up, Best Public Junior Secondary School Administrator in Nigeria (Ngozi Okafor of Community High School, Nkwelle Ezunaka), and First Runner-up, Best Public Primary School Administrator in Nigeria (Nnenna Edozieobi of Model Primary School, Akabor, Ojoto).
Meanwhile, Soludo’s wife, Nonye, commended the teachers and the winning schools, saying that she was very proud of them. “I’m super excited to learn that Anambra State won historic nine awards at the 2025 President and Schools Excellence Award held in Abuja.
“All of these great awards represent the fruits of our investments in Anambra’s education sector. Our 2025 budget dedicated 101 percent of the spending to the sector alone, representing the largest budgetary allocation in terms of sectoral breakdown. The rewards are paying off, and it’s all credit to the right vision and deliberate target.
“Education is the backbone of our human capital masterplan. The Dubai-Taiwan journey begins from the classroom.
“Congratulations to all the schools and teachers who have made our state proud again. May your flame of glory take you farther than it already has. Congratulations to Anambra State, the Light of the Nation.”
