First Lady Champions Teacher Empowerment. .... As Alausa Unveils Transformational Reforms at Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026

Senator Oluremi Tinubu
Nigeria's First Lady

"Teachers, foundation of national development." Says Alausa.

.... Reaffirms that no education reform can succeed without empowering the teaching workforce.

.... As Remi Tinubu applauds government's decision to recognize and reward excellence in teaching, announcing additional support for the overall winner of the national award and reaffirming that outstanding teachers deserve tangible recognition. 

.... Described teachers as “the quiet architects of great nations,” whose daily dedication shapes character, builds competence, and nurtures hope in future generations.

Abuja- Wife of Nigeria's President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday 27th January, delivered the opening charge at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, calling for sustained national commitment to empowering teachers as the foundation of education reform and national development.

Mrs. Tinubu, while speaking at the summit held at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja, under the theme “Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,” described teachers as “the quiet architects of great nations,” whose daily dedication shapes character, builds competence, and nurtures hope in future generations.

Drawing from her personal experience as a former classroom teacher, the Nigerian First Lady stressed that meaningful and lasting progress in education can only be achieved when teachers are properly trained, adequately supported, and genuinely valued. 

Commending the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa and the Federal Ministry of Education for their bold leadership and clear reform agenda, she described the newly launched EduRevamp Continuous Professional Development Portal as a strategic and timely intervention capable of improving instructional quality and learning outcomes nationwide.

She also applauded the decision of the government to recognize and reward excellence in teaching, announcing additional support for the overall winner of the national award and reaffirming that outstanding teachers deserve tangible recognition. 

She declared the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026 open, expressing confidence that its deliberations and outcomes would contribute significantly to strengthening the education system and securing a better future for Nigerian children.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Maruf Alausa described teachers as the foundation of national development and reaffirmed that no education reform can succeed without empowering the teaching workforce.

He announced that, following a rigorous national selection process, twelve outstanding teachers (six from basic education and six from senior secondary education) emerged as national finalists, each to receive ₦25 million, while the overall Best Teacher of the Year will receive ₦50 million. According to the Minister, the awards represent “a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria.”

The Minister unveiled EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme designed to modernize teacher training, emphasize measurable competencies, and link performance to incentives. He clarified that while EduRevamp is open to all teachers across public and private schools, its performance-based incentive package is reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to education under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that “teachers are no longer an afterthought; they are the strategy.”

In her opening remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, welcomed participants and described the summit as a strategic platform for strengthening the teaching profession. She noted that empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention but the foundation of sustainable reform, improved learning outcomes, and accelerated national development.

She urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue toward practical, scalable solutions and collective accountability, stressing that the success of the summit would be judged by tangible impact in classrooms across the country.

Also speaking at the summit, the Governor of Gombe State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) praised the First Lady for her exceptional commitment to education and described her leadership as inspiring and deeply impactful to national progress.

He noted that his decision to attend the summit was driven by deep respect for her consistent advocacy for education, youth development, and inclusive learning, particularly through initiatives such as the Renewed Hope Initiative, which continues to expand access to education for vulnerable children nationwide.

The Governor commended the two in charge of the Education ministry for their focused leadership and reform-driven agenda, noting that education is witnessing measurable progress under the current administration. He described the summit as a national call to action and emphasized that no education system can rise above the quality, motivation, and welfare of its teachers. Speaking on behalf of all state governors, he reaffirmed the collective commitment of sub-national governments to advancing teacher quality, welfare, and professionalism.

He stressed that empowering teachers is not optional but a strategic imperative for national development, social stability, and economic growth, adding that Nigeria’s future depends on how well teachers are valued and supported today.

Also speaking at the summit, the President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) commended the Federal Government for organizing the first-ever national teachers’ summit at the Presidential Banquet Hall, describing it as a historic recognition of the profession.

He welcomed the renewed support for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and praised the strong emphasis on professionalization, motivation, and capacity building, noting that these interventions are critical to restoring dignity to the teaching profession.

The Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026 convened policymakers, educators, development partners, regulators, unions, and international stakeholders, including representatives of UNESCO, UNICEF, the European Union, and the British Council. Participants committed to advancing reforms that prioritize teacher quality, equity in access to professional development, and sustained investment in education.