BENIN CITY – The Salu Oniha Okonofua Foundation (SOOF), in conjunction with the Edo State Ministry of Education at the weekend honoured 24 teachers in public primary and secondary schools across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state for their distinguished service.
The ceremony was the 5th Edo State Teacher Awards held in Benin City.
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Oviawe, represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Osamuyimen Oni-Ekhosuehi said that the state government has since 2018 trained 15,000 in their various fields of specialty.
The training, she said has remodeled them from analogue to digital compliant teachers
She said that the awards were informed by the state government and the foundation’s believe that teachers should get their rewards while alive.
While urging teachers in the state to emulate the awards recipients in view of the rewards system put in place, she also charged the awards recipients to be more committed to duty.
She disclosed that government would continue to give the education sector of the state unparalleled attention.
In line with the EdoBEST 2.0 reforms, she said that the ministry was reviving the schools Inter- house Sports competition, excursion programme, the Principal’s cup competition and the schools debate programme.
In their separate remarks, the Programme Coordinator, Mr Michael Obigho Okonofua and the Chairman of the Governing Board of SOOF, Dr. Eni Okonofua said that the awards ceremony was a sacrifice in memory of their father, High Chief Salu Oniha Okonofua.
According to them, the awards were initiated in conjunction with the state Ministry of Education as a platform to recognize exemplary service of teachers, who, despite the odds, continue to make sacrifices to make a better Nigeria.
“This award is a first step in our planned intervention to improve teachers worth, teachers confidence, teachers motivation and teachers productivity in Nigeria.”
The foundation, they said, focuses on providing resources and opportunities for children to live more productive lives through access to quality education.
