In the words of Dan Rather, a famous American author, ‘every dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs, pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth’. The emphasis here is on teachers. Teachers are dream moulders. They have the power to make or mar an individual’s dream.
Greek Legend, Alexander the Great understood the power of a teacher when he quipped: ‘I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well’. Indeed, parents can give a child life, but it is the teacher who makes the child’s life meaningful through quality education. All over the world today, it is almost impossible to find successful people who will not make reference to certain teacher(s) who impacted their lives.
Like the father of the Great Alexander, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Governor of Delta State, certainly understands the powers of a teacher. He knows that the power to build the kind of future we desire rests with teachers in whose care we entrust our children. Hence, he invests massively in teacher’s welfare with a mindset that a well motivated teacher will ultimately lead to a great future.
Although Dr. Uduaghan keeps getting accolades from home and abroad for his achievements in health, economy, transportation and other sectors, what he has done for teachers in Delta State in rarely mentioned.
It was therefore a delight to see him honoured last week in the ancient city of Abeokuta when the 18th Annual Thisday Awards held under the auspices of a former President of the United States, Mr. Bill Clinton. The governor was duly rewarded for his investments in teachers, especially those in the nursery, primary and secondary sectors.
Beyond the glitz and excitements of the award, what Uduaghan has done for teachers in Delta State deserves commendations not just from the organisers of the Thisday Awards but from everyone who knows and appreciates the work of a teacher.
As Thisday publisher, Nduka Obaigbena noted during the presentation, ‘teachers in Delta State are handsomely paid’ that is why they are committed to creating a good future for the pupils in their care. They are inspired to give their best because the government led by Uduaghan, leaves no stone unturned in giving them the best financially and morally.
Those who know what used to be before Uduaghan came on board will readily attest that he deserves all the commendations has gets when he comes to teacher’s welfare. Unlike those who say a teacher’s reward is in heaven, Uduaghan ensures that teachers enjoy the fruit of their toil here on earth. He doesn’t just pay them promptly and handsomely, he creates a standard environment for work and productivity.
Delta State is one of the few states in Nigeria where infrastructures in public schools can compete favourably with those in privately owned schools. It is also one of the few states where teachers rarely drop tools over unpaid wages and allowances thereby depriving innocent pupils of the education they deserve. It is only in Delta State that pupils from government owned primary schools blaze the trail in National Common Entrance and other external examination.
Right from his first tenure in office, Uduaghan has shown an unwavering commitment towards improving education and human capital development. Under his watch, derelict schools have been revamped, laboratories have been built, teachers have been sponsored to trainings and scholarships worth millions of Naira have been doled out to deserving students at all levels.
Aside from these, the Governor is also spearheading partnership initiatives with private organisations aimed at improving teachers and students in the state. Earlier this year, he signed an agreement with DAAR Communication to promote academic excellence in the state through direct broadcast of educational programmes on radio and television stations across the state.
Uduaghan also began an initiative to decongest classrooms to a minimum of 40 students in a class. This initiative gave birth to an avalanche of infrastructural projects in all the primary and secondary schools across the state. In every school in Delta State, new class rooms have either been built or presently under construction.
Judging by these worthy investments in human and material resources, it was not a surprise that Chief Dibie Ossai, a teacher from Delta State was one of the 15 teachers honoured with the prestigious Thisday award from a pool of teachers nationwide. Like other teachers in the State, Chief Dibie epitomises the success that can be achieved when government creates an enabling environment that inspires teachers to work.
The most impressive thing about Governor Uduaghan love for teachers is that it does not end with those in primary and secondary schools alone, lecturers in tertiary institutions also benefit. Delta is one of the few states in Nigeria where state university lecturers earn as much as their counterparts in federal schools.
With all that Uduaghan has done for teacher in Delta State and the result it is yielding, one cannot but agree that a teacher’s reward is here on earth.
