Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigeria to focus more on education and the welfare of teachers as part of efforts to fight poverty, inequality, and unemployment.
Obi made this call while showing support for the “Let There Be Teachers Conference 2025”, where more than 60,000 teachers gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos. The event has been described as the largest gathering of teachers in the world.
He stressed that Nigeria must restore dignity to the teaching profession if the country wants to unlock the full potential of its young people.
“Teachers are the real nation-builders. Without them, no profession can exist. The future of our country depends on the quality of education we give our children and the respect we show to those who teach them,” Obi said.
He praised the organizers, 1Million Teachers, and their partners, for hosting the historic event. He also celebrated teachers’ resilience, noting how they continue to shape the values and knowledge of the next generation despite many challenges.
Obi added that Nigeria can only achieve true national progress by investing in teachers’ welfare, creating better working conditions for them, and giving them the respect they deserve.