Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says resuscitation of public school system has yielded remarkable results in literacy, numeracy and school enrolment across the state.
Soludo made the assertion at the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration and endorsement march, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday, in Awka.
World Teachers Day is held annually on October 5, and the theme for this year’s commemoration is – ‘Together for Teachers, Together for Tomorrow ‘.
“Literacy and numeracy levels in public schools have increased by over 40 per cent, while public school enrolment has risen by over 45 per cent since the state resuscitated its public school system.
“Anambra now has almost zero per cent of out-of-school children in Nigeria. This is a testament to our commitment to quality education.
“Our administration recognises that education and human capital are our greatest assets, and we will do whatever it takes to make our public schools rise again.
Highlighting the pivotal role of teachers in achieving the reforms, the governor emphasised that no education system can thrive without quality teachers.
“No school system survives without teachers. If you want to evaluate the future of a society, you look at the quality of its teachers,” he stated.
The governor commended the teachers for their excellent work and for positioning the state’s public schools to win numerous national awards.
“One of our schools emerged overall best in Nigeria, with eight other awards across various categories at the 2025 President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards.
“You have won an 18-seater bus and laptops, but I want to add a cash prize of N10million for the overall best school and N5million each for the other award categories.
“Also those who won various awards since 2022 when I assumed office will also get N5 million each.
“WAEC recently named Community Secondary School, Eziowelle, as the best science school in Nigeria.
“I’m very happy that our huge investment in education is yielding great results and you deserve to be celebrated,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Chika Chukwudozie, state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), thanked the governor for his support to the education sector.
“We appreciate the governor for regular payment of salaries, promotions, continuous teacher training and recruitment of 8,315 teachers.
“Renovation and upgrade of schools to smart schools, free education policy and payment of long-overdue teachers’ gratuities,” she said.
In her remarks, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Commissioner for Education, said the event was to thank and endorse Soludo ahead of the Nov. 8 governorship election, to enable him to continue his remarkable strides in the education sector. (NAN)