Peter Obi urges Nigeria to prioritise teachers’ welfare and education investment, calling educators the true nation-builders at landmark Lagos event

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has called on Nigeria to prioritise investment in education and the welfare of teachers as a pathway to tackling poverty, inequality and unemployment.

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Obi made the appeal in solidarity with the Let There Be Teachers Conference 2025, held at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, where more than 60,000 teachers gathered in what is described as the largest assembly of teachers in the world.

He emphasised that restoring the dignity of teachers is vital to unlocking the nation’s full potential. “Teachers are the true nation-builders. Without them, no profession exists.

The progress of our country will only be as strong as the quality of education we provide our children, and the dignity we accord those who impart knowledge,” Obi said.

Commending the organisers, 1Million Teachers and their partners, Obi praised the resilience of educators who continue to shape the minds and values of future generations despite daunting challenges.

He insisted that meaningful transformation in Nigeria would only be possible if teachers’ welfare is prioritised, respect accorded, and enabling conditions created for their work.

“Only by investing in teachers can Nigeria achieve the progress and development it desires,” he added.

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The call by Peter Obi comes at a time when debates about Nigeria’s education system and its role in national development continue to dominate public discourse.