Governor Alex Otti of Abia State deserves commendation for placing teachers at the centre of the state’s development agenda. On October 5, 2026, at the Michael Okpara Event Centre, Umuahia, during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration, he announced a N1 billion Teachers’ Appreciation Fund, to be shared equally among teachers. He also ordered payment of outstanding dues and arrears, and action on delayed promotions. This was a response to issues raised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
The gesture is significant beyond money. It recognises that teachers perform a consequential task: moulding minds, character and citizenship as the home lays the foundation. More importantly, Otti says Abia has devoted 20 per cent of its annual budget to education for three consecutive years. As of 2026, that translates to about N203.2 billion.
That commitment sits squarely within UNESCO’s Education 2030 financing benchmark of 15 to 20 per cent of public expenditure, or 4 to 6 per cent of GDP, for education. Funding alone is insufficient. UNESCO itself warns that spending must be matched by efficiency, equity, trained teachers, adequate infrastructure and measurable outcomes. Abia must therefore ensure that its allocation produces better learning, not merely larger budgets.
Education is also commanding serious attention in some other states. Enugu devoted 32.27 per cent of its 2026 budget to education and has maintained more than 30 per cent in recent years. Anambra allocated 46.9 per cent of its 2026 budget, while Ebonyi allocated about 19.9 per cent. Anambra has also rewarded outstanding teachers with cash prizes, while Kaduna has combined teacher awards with substantial investment in classrooms and training. The Federal Government, too, awarded outstanding teachers N350 million collectively in 2026. These are commendable initiatives worthy of emulation.
Conversely, it is difficult to justify a culture in which governments eagerly associate themselves with large rewards for entertainment spectacles such as Big Brother Naija, while teachers struggle for recognition, remuneration, training and working tools. The N160 million prize attached to the 2026 BBNaija winner illustrates the scale of rewards that can accompany entertainment, though private sponsorship makes it different from public spending. The comparison nevertheless raises a question about national values and priorities.
The International Teachers’ Day reminds us that the hands that mould children outside the home cradle deserve respect, pay and dignity. Teaching must become a vocation capable of attracting Nigeria’s bright minds. Governments must guarantee competitive salaries, prompt promotion and pension rights. They must provide continuous professional development and upgrade classrooms, laboratories, libraries, housing and digital tools. We must reward excellence transparently, strengthen teacher accountability, reduce overcrowded classrooms, and protect teachers from insecurity.
Otti’s N1 billion is a wake-up signal for the Federal Government and other states: sustainable growth begins with human capital, and human capital begins with the teacher.
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