Education expert, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye has expressed deep concern regarding the deteriorating state of the teaching profession in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) International Teachers’ Day event in Abuja, Ajiboye highlighted the alarming decline in teacher status and interest among young Nigerians.
“Teaching, once regarded as a noble profession, is now facing an existential crisis in Nigeria,” he warned. “The alarming drop in interest in teaching as a career, along with the mass departure of qualified teachers, is a sign that urgent intervention is needed.”
Ajiboye, a former Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), noted that the profession is endangered due to poor treatment and lack of recognition and stressed that many experienced educators are leaving for other fields, exacerbating the crisis.
In his presentation titled “Valuing Teacher Voices: A Panacea for a Rejuvenated Teacher Education in Nigeria,” he urged authorities to involve teachers in shaping educational policies and curriculum. “It’s time to recognise the gravity of this issue and take immediate action to restore the dignity of teaching,” he stated.
He called for the establishment of a national teachers’ and caregivers’ welfare commission to address the specific needs of educators. “We need increased funding for education infrastructure and revised welfare policies,” Ajiboye added, advocating for mentorship programs to enhance leadership opportunities within schools.
