By - Ministry says technology-driven process will improve transparency and credibility as 14 awardees prepare to be honoured at the national celebration in Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Education has moved the selection of winners for this year’s President’s Teachers’ and Schools Excellence Awards from a manual system to a digital one, in a bid to make the recognition of outstanding teachers and schools more transparent, accountable and better documented.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, announced the change at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration, which holds today, Monday, October 5. The details were contained in a statement issued on October 2 by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
A digital process to restore confidence
According to the minister, the new system was put in place by the ministry in collaboration with State Ministries of Education and follows relevant guidelines of the African Union. She said it would give Nigeria a more credible and properly documented framework for identifying and rewarding excellence in the teaching profession.
Prof. Ahmad explained that the platform would also keep reliable records that can be consulted in future years, and that it would promote fairness in the choice of awardees. The ministry expects the arrangement to build public confidence in an exercise that has traditionally relied on paperwork and manual verification.
Five pillars to guide the celebration
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Transforming the Teaching Profession for Africa’s Future,” the minister identified innovation, mobility, artificial intelligence, inclusion and professional excellence as five connected pillars that will shape discussions and activities during the celebration.
On innovation, she said the focus would be on creative teaching approaches and locally relevant solutions to learning challenges. Mobility, she added, would encourage professional collaboration and the sharing of knowledge across borders.
On artificial intelligence, the minister said the technology could support personalised learning, help schools make decisions based on data and reduce the administrative burden on teachers, provided it is used responsibly, ethically and inclusively. She stressed that technology must complement the professional role of teachers and not diminish it, and that teachers’ professional judgement must be preserved while they are equipped with the digital skills needed to cope with a fast-changing education environment.
On inclusion, Prof. Ahmad called for equitable access to quality education for every learner regardless of gender, ability, socioeconomic circumstances or geographical location.
On professional excellence, she said progress would require continuous professional development, better welfare, supportive policies and wider recognition of the leadership role teachers play in national and continental development.
Symposium, march-past and awards
The minister said the Federal Ministry of Education works with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to coordinate the yearly World Teachers’ Day programme and the awards linked to it. This year’s programme includes a symposium that will bring together education stakeholders and heads of relevant agencies and institutions. Participants are expected to examine the five pillars and work out practical ways of strengthening the teaching profession.
The main celebration today will gather teachers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for a march-past featuring state flags and cultural attire. The ministry said the display is meant to reflect national unity, diversity and the shared contribution of teachers to development.
A major highlight will be the presentation of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day and President’s Teachers’ and Schools Excellence Awards. Fourteen awardees will be recognised for outstanding contributions to education. The first, second and third best teachers will receive major prizes, while the other recipients will be given laptops. Outstanding school performance will also be recognised as part of the programme.
Prof. Ahmad thanked state governments, government agencies, development partners, organisations and individuals who contributed to the success of the event. She also urged the media to provide accurate and comprehensive coverage that would deepen public appreciation of the role teachers play.
Officials call for stronger welfare and teacher involvement
In her welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. (Mrs.) Folake Olatunji-David, described teachers as central to national development. She commended their dedication to educating and shaping young Nigerians despite the challenges facing the profession.
She said World Teachers’ Day offers an opportunity to recognise what teachers contribute while renewing commitments to their welfare, professional development and dignity. She also called for greater involvement of teachers in education policy and decision-making, arguing that their participation would strengthen ownership and implementation of reforms.
The Director of Educational Support Services, Mr. Gabriel Amudipe Oluwole, also stressed the indispensable role of teachers in delivering quality education and supporting the all-round development of learners. He said planning for the awards involved a review of relevant instruments, coordination of assessment activities, and the collection and verification of applications, with attention to safeguarding, facilities and governance. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to equipping teachers with modern tools and creating working environments that support effective teaching.
NUT backs digital skills, warns against sidelining teachers
Speaking on behalf of the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, the Deputy National President, Elder Comrade Kizito Kalu, said the changing nature of education makes it necessary to strengthen the professional role of teachers and not weaken it.
He called for sustained investment in teachers’ digital skills, continuous professional development and workplace support. Artificial intelligence and other technologies, he said, should complement the expertise and professional judgement of teachers. Mr. Kalu also reaffirmed the union’s commitment to constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders in building a strong, respected and adequately supported teaching profession.
Ministry restates commitment
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, to placing teachers at the centre of the country’s education transformation. It listed stronger professional development, digital innovation, improved recognition and supportive working environments as the tools to achieve this.
The ministry said it would continue to work with state governments, education agencies, development partners, teachers’ organisations and other stakeholders to build an education system that is resilient, inclusive and globally competitive, one that empowers teachers, improves learning outcomes and equips Nigerian children and young people with the knowledge, skills and values required for national development.
