At world teachers’ day, Okowa rewards 12 with cash, cars

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa at the weekend rewarded no fewer than 12 teachers with cars and cash for outstanding performance of their duties, saying teachers should receive some rewards on earth and not only in heaven, as it is commonly held.

Okowa announced the rewards for teachers who emerged through a rigorous process at a Dinner and Awards night organised by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in conjunction with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) for teachers in Asaba on the sidelines of this year’s World Teachers Day.

Recipients of the awards were principals, head teachers and teachers at primary and secondary school levels, as they were charged to not only teach, but also develop the attitude and moral traits of their pupils. Okowa, who told the awardees that the reward of teachers was not only in heaven, said, “This type of recognition will touch the hearts of our teachers and make them work harder in the development of our children.

The teachers, just like parents, play important roles in the development and upbringing of the child. We need to continue to give care to our children and guide them aright because it is at this foundational level that we can mould their characters.

“We need to get the moral development of the children aright at this level, so that it will be well with our nation.”He urged the awardees to redouble their commitment to the upbringing of the pupils, reminding them that teaching should be a passion that genuinely flows from the within.

The governor commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for organising the event and NUT for its s support and partnership in improving the state’s education sector.

Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Patrick Ukah, said that the awardees were selected in a process that involved over 49,000 teachers and students in 470 public secondary schools and 1,126 primary schools in the state. He congratulated the awardees and said that the assessment was done and vetted by a team of academics drawn from various tertiary institutions in the country.

The awardees are, Asanuvwe Elizabeth, Owumi Onome, Omotie Phoebe (Best Primary School Teachers); Oyemike Andrew, Ogwara Gabriel and Esiedafe Doris (Best Head Teacher). Others are, Imarah Georgina, Eseimokumoh Charles, Ikeh Bridget (Best Secondary school Teacher); and Ominiabohs Adeline, Adiri Jonathan, Okolafor Fidelis (Best Principal)