By Stella Obi
On Sunday, the world marked World Teachers’ Day. The annual global event, every October 5, is set aside to celebrate the invaluable contributions of teachers in shaping society through education.
The theme for the year 2025 celebration is “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession”. The theme reminds us that education is not the work of one teacher. It is a shared mission built on team work, mentorship and partnership between teachers, schools, communities and governments.
During the event held in Abuja, Anambra State’s education received a boost to its reputation for excellence as Woliwo Primary School 11, Onitsha, emerged Best School ( Basic School Category) in Nigeria at the 2025 President’s Teacher and School Excellence Awards.
The school clinched the top national honour, winning a 16 – seater bus and national recognition for outstanding teaching, infrastructural and pupil performance.
Governor Soludo’s administration has revamped education by investing in teachers through employment, training, welfare and recognition. These efforts have restored hope, motivation and dignity to the teaching profession and positioning Anambra as a model for educational excellence in Nigeria.
Woliwo Primary School 11’s triumph at the national level underscores the effectiveness of Governor Soludo’s education policies and reforms.
The introduction of free and compulsory education from Nursery to Junior Secondary School (JSS3), and the reduction of school fees for Senior Secondary Students in public schools was designed to ensure that every child in Anambra State has access to quality learning regardless of background, making the State to be ranked the lowest in out-of-school children in the country.
The Governor understands the importance of teacher to student ratio by recruiting over 8,000 teachers to address the manpower gap in the public school system and improve instructional quality.
There was infrastructural support for basic education projects, including classroom renovations, provision of desks and learning materials and construction of modern sanitation facilities in schools across the 21 local government areas of the State.
The Soludo administration’s commitment to technology driven education has seen the establishment of 22 “Smart Schools”, equipped with digital learning tools, ICT, laboratories and STEM facilities. These smart schools serve as innovation hubs where pupils are introduced to modern learning technologies, preparing them for the future.
Governor Soludo also focused on teacher welfare, training and continuous professional development, ensuring that teachers remain motivated and well equipped to deliver quality instructions.
Governor Soludo understands that education thrives when teachers are empowered to work together, share knowledge and build capacity collectively.
Stella is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
