The Lagos State Government has joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Teachers’ Day on the 5th of October.
To this effect, MR. BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU, GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE delivered the address below AT THE YEAR 2025 WORLD TEACHERS DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE NUT PAVILLION, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, AGIDINGBI IKEJA, ON SUNDAY
1. Today, we are here to celebrate some of the most important people in our lives — our teachers. They are the ones whose wisdom shaped our past, whose dedication is shaping our present, and whose influence will guide the future of generations yet to come.
2. On this World Teachers’ Day, I join parents, students, and everyone in the education sector to say a big, heartfelt “thank you” to our teachers. You are the ones who awaken curiosity in the young mind, who nurture hidden potential, and who inspire children to dream beyond their limits. Every day, through your patience and commitment, you shape destinies and build the foundation of our society.
3. I also take this moment to welcome and recognize the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, whose voice has remained strong in championing the welfare and dignity of teachers. I acknowledge the dedicated men and women of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our education system running effectively. And I salute our six Education Districts, who carry the vision of quality education into every community across our State.
4. Today is your day to pause, reflect, and celebrate the immense value you bring to the lives of our children and to the future of our State and our nation.
5. The theme for this year, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession”, is a strong reminder that teaching is not something teachers do alone. Education works best when teachers, parents, policymakers, communities, and even students themselves come together to make learning meaningful.
6. This is also a call to action. Teaching is so much more than delivering lessons from a textbook. Teachers mentor, they guide, they counsel, and they build character. They give confidence to the timid, direction to the lost, and encouragement to those who doubt themselves. They are shaping not just students in classrooms, but the leaders, innovators, and citizens of tomorrow.
7. For this reason, their voices must not be pushed aside. Teachers’ experiences, insights, and challenges must guide the way we design our schools, our curriculum, and even our education policies. When we listen to teachers, we are not just supporting a profession — we are investing in the very foundation of our future.
8. In Lagos, we see teachers as partners. That is why we make sure your voices are part of our policies from start to finish. One example is our rule that only career teachers — people who have grown through the ranks — can become Tutors-General or Permanent Secretaries. This policy has brought stability to our education system and made it stronger.
9. We are also adding more qualified teachers to our classrooms. This helps to share the load, give more attention to each child, and make sure no learner is left behind. Because when every child has access to a caring and competent teacher, the whole future becomes brighter.
10. And today, teaching is no longer just about standing in front of a class. Teachers design curriculum, shaping what students learn and how they learn it. You are counselors, guiding children through personal challenges. You are champions of inclusion, making sure every child, no matter their background or ability, feels valued. You are innovators, using technology to make learning deeper and more relevant to today’s world.
11. You wear many hats at once — mentor, guide, role model, and nation-builder. You do far more than people often see, and it is only right that we honor the true value of your work.
12. That is why, as a government, we are determined to keep investing in teachers — supporting you with training, resources, and opportunities to grow, so you can keep shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
13. So, to all our teachers, let me say: thank you. Thank you for your passion, your patience, your creativity, and your commitment. Thank you for being role models and change agents.
14. My message to you today is simple: stay strong in your mission. Keep shaping lives, keep building brighter futures. We will keep collaborating with you to give our children, our State, and our nation the future they deserve.
15. I wish you a joyful celebration.
16. Thank you for listening.
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
Governor of Lagos State.
5th October, 2025.
