By: Manoah Kikekon
The Nigeria French Village International (NFLV) Staff School commemorated World Teachers’ Day 2026 in an atmosphere filled with joy, music, and deep reflection.
Held on Monday, October 5, 2026, within the school premises, the event brought together current educators, management, students, and retired teachers to celebrate excellence, resilience, and passion in the noble teaching profession.
Delivering the keynote address titled "Service in Excellence," the Deputy Director of the French Village and Board Chairman of the NFLV Staff School, Prof. Samson Abiola Ajayi, charged teachers to maintain the highest standards of professional dedication.
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“That is, we have to strive for excellence, we labour for excellence. Whatever we do, whatever we are involved in, whatever assignment given to us, we should look towards excellence,” Prof. Ajayi stated.
He emphasized that achieving true distinction requires punctuality, regularity, thorough preparedness, cheerfulness with students, and executing responsibilities with little to no supervision.
Addressing the broader economic realities facing educators, Prof. Ajayi called on the government to expedite action on the new minimum wage. Highlighting that "the reward of a teacher is in heaven, but before then here we also have family to take care of," he noted that inflation has made life expensive, urging authorities to fast-track welfare adjustments so teachers can live comfortably.
Mrs. Olatunji Justina Adesola, the Head Teacher of NFLV Staff School, , expressed immense delight in celebrating her colleagues despite prevailing financial hurdles.
“We are really happy celebrating ourselves today. Despite that our remuneration does not quantify or equate to what we do teachers are paid less our joy is seeing our pupils progressing. They are progressing and we are happy, that is our reward,” Mrs. Adesola shared.
Describing teaching as a divine vocation rather than a mere profession, she encouraged her colleagues to remain steadfast and committed. She also advised the students to remain disciplined, work hard, and consistently show appreciation to their teachers, reminding them that hard work pays.
Reinforcing the message of dedication, Mrs. Odoh Charity, the phonics teacher at the school, reflected on the deep fulfillment educators derive from seeing their former students succeed. She also used the platform to charge parents to actively support teachers.
“We have chosen the best profession and we will continue to do it and do it better. Our hope and our joy is when we see the products of our work,” Mrs. Charity noted. She urged parents to prioritize their children's schooling and play active roles at home to ease the burden of training young minds.
Beyond the speeches and intellectual discourse, the 2026 edition of World Teachers' Day at NFLV Staff School featured a vibrant touch of nostalgia. Retired teachers from the institution were specially invited to join the funfair.
The campus came alive as active and retired educators shared lighthearted moments, danced together, and engaged in various exciting games, cementing a lasting bond of community and shared legacy.