World Teachers’ Day: Gov. AbdulRazaq Rewards Kwara Teachers with ₦120m, Offers Dangote Shares

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday rewarded outstanding teachers, head teachers and principals across the state with prizes worth about ₦120 million as part of activities marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.

The Governor also announced plans to acquire 10,000 shares of the Dangote Refinery IPO for female teachers in outstanding public schools across the state, as part of his administration’s efforts to promote investment culture and financial inclusion among women.

Presenting the awards at an event in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq said the recognition was designed to appreciate the sacrifices of teachers and motivate them to continue contributing to the development of the education sector.

The awards were presented in different categories. A total of 29 best principals and head teachers received ₦29 million, while 119 outstanding teachers received ₦59.5 million.

In addition, 11 serving and retired university dons were honoured with Pioneer Professorship Recognition Awards worth ₦22 million, while three schools received a combined ₦9 million for emerging as winners of the Best Kept School Award.

The Governor said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare and working conditions of teachers, describing them as critical drivers of the state’s education system.

“We will continue to do our part, including improving your welfare and working conditions on a sustainable basis. We are confident that you and other stakeholders will always do your part,” AbdulRazaq said.

He said the administration’s objective remained to build an education system that gives every child in Kwara a fair opportunity to learn, develop useful skills and compete anywhere in the world.

“The quality of education we provide today will determine the quality of Kwara we have tomorrow,” he added.

According to him, the administration’s interventions in education go beyond the construction of classrooms and recruitment of teachers, stressing that the government has focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning while restoring the dignity of the teaching profession.

He listed the recruitment of qualified teachers through a merit-based process, continuous professional development, improved school infrastructure and the introduction of technology and data-driven management of basic education through KwaraLEARN among the major initiatives of his administration.

The Governor also highlighted the regular promotion of teachers and implementation of the 27.5 per cent Teachers’ Specific Allowance (TSA), reiterating that the welfare and honour of teachers would remain a priority.

AbdulRazaq Unveils Dangote Investment Initiative

The Governor disclosed that the state government was working with the Dangote Foundation to promote investment culture, financial inclusion, asset ownership and shareholding among women teachers.

He explained that the initiative would enable female teachers in TESCOM and SUBEB to benefit from shares under the Dangote Foundation’s women-focused investment initiative.

“Our hardworking women teachers in TESCOM and SUBEB will get ten shares each. We will also extend it to the retired female teachers so that peace and prosperity will go round them,” he said.

AbdulRazaq further disclosed that he had directed the Head of Service, Dr Olufunke Mercy Shittu, to develop modalities for incorporating outstanding retired female teachers into the initiative.

The Governor said the interventions in the education sector were already yielding positive results, pointing to the strong performances of Kwara pupils at national and international competitions.

Kwara to Conduct 2026 Teachers’ Promotion Exercise

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, announced that the state government had approved the conduct of the 2026 promotion exercise for eligible teachers.

Adaramaja disclosed that the promotion examination had been scheduled for the following Saturday, adding that Kwara would become the first state in the federation to conduct the 2026 promotion exercise for eligible teachers.

He described the development as another indication of the administration’s commitment to teachers’ career progression and welfare.

Adato Commends AbdulRazaq

In his remarks, the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Kwara State, Hon. Seun Ogunniyi Adato, congratulated teachers in Kwara and across the world on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day.

Adato said there were numerous examples of how Governor AbdulRazaq had added value to the teaching profession and improved the lives of teachers in the state.

The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said hard work deserved to be recognised and congratulated the awardees on their achievements.

He urged teachers to continue improving themselves and remain focused on ensuring that every child acquires the necessary knowledge and skills.

The Commissioner also assured teachers that the ministry would continue to engage relevant stakeholders on issues concerning their welfare, professional development and working conditions.

The keynote speaker and former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State, Comrade Umar Farooq, urged government and other stakeholders to continue creating an enabling environment for teachers to succeed.

Farooq said supporting teachers should not be viewed merely as supporting a profession, but as an investment in the children, communities and society that depend on them.

Earlier, the Kwara State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Yusuf Wahab Agboola, commended the state government for its investments in school infrastructure and teachers’ welfare.

He appealed to the government to implement the national harmonised retirement age for teachers, among other requests.

The event was attended by top government officials, representatives of the National President of the NUT, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, state NUT leaders, heads of educational institutions, APC leaders and representatives of labour unions.