As Nigeria prepares to commemorate International Teachers’ Day on October 5, the STEM Teachers Rewards and Empowerment Foundation (STREF) International has reiterated its dedication to celebrating educators as vital “nation builders and change agents.”
Speaking ahead of the global event, Love Odion, Founder and President of STREF Global, described this year’s celebration as particularly important given the challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector. She emphasized that while teachers remain the backbone of every profession, their efforts are often overlooked and underappreciated.
“International Teachers’ Day is not just ceremonial; it is a moral obligation. Teachers are the foundation of every profession, yet they are undervalued and overburdened. Our mission is to change this narrative and remind society that teachers are heroes,” Odion stated.
As part of the commemoration, STREF International will stage the 4th annual International Teachers’ Day Novelty Match in three Nigerian cities — Kano, Abuja, and Uyo. The match, Odion explained, takes teachers beyond the classroom and onto the football field, symbolizing unity, well-being, and camaraderie.
The novelty matches are scheduled as follows:
- Saturday, October 4, at Aztec Sports Centre, Ibrahim Dabo Road, Kano, 7 a.m.
- Saturday, October 11, at Guards Brigade Mambilla Barracks Football Field, Asokoro, Abuja, 7 a.m.
- Saturday, October 25, at Community Comprehensive Secondary School Football Field, Four Towns, Uyo, 7 a.m.
Beyond sports, STREF International will also host the 6th STREF Education Heroes Award in Kano on November 1, 2025. The event will feature a red-carpet ceremony, panel discussions, and award presentations to honor outstanding educators for their resilience, innovation, and excellence.
Odion noted that the celebrations go beyond recognition, serving as a call to action for government and policymakers. She highlighted urgent needs such as fair and timely remuneration, housing and healthcare schemes, continuous professional training, investment in modern teaching tools, and legal as well as social elevation of teachers’ status.
“These are not luxuries; they are necessities if Nigeria must build a progressive educational system,” she stressed.
Odion also outlined the struggles teachers face, including poor pay, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, salary delays, lack of research funding, and limited career growth opportunities. She warned that ignoring these challenges could jeopardize Nigeria’s future.
“If the government fails to act, we risk collapsing the education sector, discouraging talented individuals from teaching, and raising generations without proper guidance. Neglecting teachers today means cultivating mediocrity tomorrow,” she cautioned.
Looking forward, Odion said STREF International hopes its initiatives will transform public perception, shifting it from pity to pride, while inspiring more students to view teaching as a prestigious profession.
“Teachers are not laborers; they are leaders. Celebrating them is not just about today but about safeguarding the future of our nation,” she concluded.
