As Nigeria prepares to join the rest of the world in celebrating International Teachers’ Day on October 5, the STEM Teachers Rewards and Empowerment Foundation (STREF) International has reaffirmed its commitment to honoring educators as “nation builders and change agents.”

Speaking ahead of the celebration, the Founder and President of the STEM Teachers Rewards and Empowerment Foundation (STREF Global), Love Odion, described this year’s event as especially significant given the many challenges confronting Nigeria’s education system. She noted that while teachers continue to serve as the foundation of every profession, their contributions often go unnoticed and unrewarded.

“International Teachers’ Day is not just ceremonial; it is a moral obligation. Teachers are the bedrock of every profession, yet they are undervalued and overburdened. Our goal is to rewrite the narrative and remind society that teachers are heroes,” Odion stated.

To mark the occasion, STREF International is set to host the 4th edition of its annual International Teachers’ Day Novelty Match across three Nigerian cities, including Kano, Abuja, and Uyo. According to Odion, the novelty match, which brings teachers out of the classroom and onto the field, symbolizes unity, wellness, and camaraderie.

The events will hold on Saturday, October 4, at Aztec Sports Centre, Ibrahim Dabo Road, 7 a.m.; Farm Centre, in Abuja on Saturday, October 11, at Guards Brigade Mambilla Barracks Football Field, Asokoro, 7 a.m.; and in Uyo on Saturday, October 25, at Community Comprehensive Secondary School Football Field, Four Towns, Uyo, 7 a.m.

Beyond the novelty match, STREF International will also host the 6th STREF Education Heroes Award in Kano on November 1, 2025. The event will spotlight exceptional teachers through a red-carpet celebration, panel discussions, and award presentations designed to dignify and reward innovation, resilience, and excellence in the profession.

Odion, however, stressed that these celebrations also serve as a call to action for government and policymakers. She outlined pressing demands, including prompt and fair remuneration, housing and healthcare schemes, continuous professional development, investment in modern teaching tools, and legal and social elevation of teachers’ status.

“These are not luxuries; they are necessities if Nigeria must have a progressive educational sector,” she said.

On the challenges teachers face, Odion highlighted poor remuneration, overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, delayed salaries, lack of research funding, and minimal career growth opportunities as key concerns that must be urgently addressed.

She warned that neglecting teachers poses grave risks for Nigeria’s future. “If government fails to act, we risk a future where education collapses, bright minds abandon teaching, and generations are raised without proper guidance. Neglecting teachers today means breeding mediocrity tomorrow,” she cautioned.

Looking ahead, Odion said STREF International hopes its celebrations will help shift public perception from pity to pride, inspiring students to embrace teaching as a dignified career and pushing society to give teachers the recognition they deserve.

“Teachers are not laborers; they are leaders. Celebrating them is not just about today; it is about securing the future of our nation,” she affirmed.