DIPLOMAN TIMES

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has presented about ₦120 million in awards to outstanding teachers, school leaders and university academics as the state marked World Teachers' Day, while also announcing a planned Dangote Refinery IPO share scheme for female teachers.

The awards were presented on Monday during a World Teachers' Day event in Ilorin. According to the Kwara State government publication, 29 best principals and head teachers received ₦29 million in total, while 119 outstanding teachers received ₦59.5 million. Eleven serving and retired university academics received pioneer professorship recognition awards worth ₦22 million, while three schools received a combined ₦9 million for the Best Kept School Award.

Governor AbdulRazaq said the awards were intended to recognise the contribution and sacrifice of teachers and motivate them to continue improving educational outcomes. He said the administration would continue to prioritise teacher welfare and working conditions while pursuing its wider objective of building an education system that gives children opportunities to learn, develop skills and compete beyond the state.

The Governor also announced plans to purchase 10,000 shares of the Dangote Refinery IPO for female teachers in each of the outstanding public schools. He said the initiative was intended to promote investment culture, financial inclusion, asset ownership and shareholding among women. He directed the Head of Service to develop modalities that would allow outstanding retired female teachers to be included as well.

AbdulRazaq also highlighted teacher recruitment, continuous professional development, school infrastructure and technology-based education management. He referred to the 27.5 percent Teachers' Specific Allowance and regular promotion of teachers as part of the administration's welfare interventions. SUBEB Chairman Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja said approval had been given for the 2026 promotion exercise and announced that the promotion examination was scheduled for the following Saturday.

The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, urged awardees to maintain their standards and encouraged teachers to continue developing professionally. The NUT leadership commended the state's investments but also requested additional measures, including alignment with the national harmonised retirement age for teachers. The World Teachers' Day programme therefore combined financial recognition, proposed investment participation and broader discussion of teacher welfare and professional development.