Akin Benjamin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dimensio Educare Ltd, a Lagos-based school improvement consultancy, has called for urgent reforms in teacher training, remuneration and school management to restore confidence in Nigeria’s education system today.

Benjamin, who served as Acting Executive Director of Junior Achievement Nigeria, said teachers remain central to the development of responsible citizens but face challenges that undermine their effectiveness and standing.

According to him, many teachers receive low remuneration compared with professionals in other sectors, while dwindling training opportunities and inadequate teaching resources have made it difficult to deliver quality learning, particularly in overcrowded public and low-cost private schools.

He also identified poor teacher self-esteem and negative public perception as problems requiring attention. He argued that the narrative could change if government and private school owners prioritised quality recruitment, improved salaries and invested in continuous professional development.

Benjamin stressed that teacher education in colleges of education and universities must be strengthened and brought closer to global standards. He said teachers should also take responsibility for their growth by embracing better teaching methods, building confidence and becoming proud, passionate professionals.

Beyond academic instruction, Benjamin expressed concern over the growing level of moral decadence in society, attributing it partly to the weakening emphasis on character development in homes, schools and religious institutions. He also pointed to poverty and greed as national problems contributing to the erosion of values.

He advocated a return to deliberate moral education, stressing that discipline should be balanced rather than harsh or purely punitive. Parents and teachers, he said, must lead by example because children learn as much from the behaviour of adults as they do from lessons.

Benjamin said children should be taught to recognise their personal value and dignity while respecting the dignity of others, noting that such understanding could help prevent bullying. He also advocated early exposure to practical vocational skills that could empower young people financially and reduce the risk of unemployment and dependency.

He identified communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving as essential competencies that schools must develop alongside academic knowledge. Education, he maintained, should prepare children not only to pass examinations but also to become capable, responsible and productive members of society.

The education consultant warned parents against treating education as a waste of resources, arguing that failure to provide children with functional education could create problems for families later. He urged parents to regard raising responsible adults as a major responsibility and to work closely with teachers and schools.

He said teachers must operate with good conscience and improve their methods, reminding educators that difficult pupils often require patience, understanding and love rather than rejection.

Benjamin further urged school owners to give their best, communicate openly with parents and treat teachers and staff with dignity. He criticised workplace incivility in some schools, saying demoralised teachers cannot be expected to deliver their best to learners.

Through Dimensio Educare, Benjamin works with school owners and leaders to move from good intentions to measurable excellence by assessing institutional performance, developing practical business plans and financial models, strengthening safety and safeguarding systems, and building structures that inspire trust among parents and students while making schools more attractive to investors.

The consultancy also publishes educational resources, including The Premium School Blueprint and the Itanforiti Series, extending its contribution to broader conversations about school quality across the region.

Benjamin credited his parents, mentors and role models for shaping his journey as an educator and consultant, particularly the late Mrs Yinka Ogunde, former Chief Executive Officer of EDUMARK and convener of TOSSE, whom he described as a major influence. He prayed that her soul would continue to rest in peace.

He urged all stakeholders to return to the drawing board, saying Nigeria’s education system must combine academic excellence, character formation, vocational empowerment and responsible citizenship if the country is to raise a generation capable of building a better society.