A LETTER TO OUR TEACHERS

Dear Teachers,

Today, all over the world, you are being celebrated for the role you play in nurturing and guiding us through the life-long process of learning. Dr. Myles Munroe in his book “The Principles and Power of Vision” wrote: No achievement in life is without the help of known and unknown individuals who have contributed to our lives. You are known individuals who certainly have helped us achieve the gift of literacy.

You are an inspiration. Your determination to make hard things easy to learn is praiseworthy. You understand well the role to teach and do not condemn or judge your students’ inadequacies. You are our angels in disguise and your reward which they say is in Heaven is revealed here on Earth when you see a once written-off child you work hard to train become a productive member of the society. What can be more rewarding or exciting? The oxford dictionary defines a teacher as someone whose job is teaching, especially in a school. To teach means give lessons, to educate, to cause to learn and understand, to inspire, to help someone in self-improvement, to impart knowledge etc. it is a full-weight responsibility you take up so passionately! In the words of Ralp Waldo Emerson, “a teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops”.

You are life-shapers, change makers and Nation builders. Yet your contribution is often times underrated. You have been buffeted by different wave of challenges in the course of your profession (e.g. poor working condition), however, your resilience is what is keeping the Nigerian Education system together! What kind of Primary School, High School, and Colleges/Universities would we have without you?

October 5 is set aside every year to remind the government (who you taught too) and everyone the important role of teachers and the need to improve your working condition and status. It is also a day set aside to celebrate you and say thank you! Recognizing how much you matter, we appreciate your commitment and competence in building the Nation. After all, it is he who builds the youths that builds the future of a Nation.

Dis generation shout out perpetual congratulations to our dear teachers, the passionate men and women out there, for making simple things look extra-ordinary, for making hard subjects simple, for broadening our horizon, for imparting knowledge, for building a competent generation and for being committed teachers- for indeed you matter!

As you build other people’s children in truth and love, May your own not be neglected. Happy World Teachers' Day!

May God Bless you all.

Jennifer Ehidiamen
-Active global citizen, committed to working for a positive change!