The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has urged teachers to continually invest in their professional development as a vital step for national progress.
Alausa made the call in Benin during the NEPL/Seplat Energy JV 2025 Seplat Education Summit, themed “Transforming the Education Workforce: A Critical Success for Nation Building.”
Represented by the Director of Basic and Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Agatha Ogefere, the minister described teachers as the backbone of the education system. He commended Seplat JV’s STEP initiative for equipping educators with modern teaching techniques in line with global best practices.
The Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering educators through initiatives like STEP. She revealed that Seplat JV has trained 1,334 teachers across host states, impacting over 100,000 students annually with STEAM education and technology-driven learning.
A representative of NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, Susan Bassey, highlighted the programme’s success, noting that past participants have leveraged their training to improve their teaching skills and contribute positively to the education system.
The Edo State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Emmanuel Iyamu, described the summit as a demonstration of the power of collaboration in transforming the education system.
The Commissioner for Secondary Education in Delta State, Rose Ezewu, represented by Justina Ishaka, disclosed that 600 teachers in Delta have benefitted from STEP since its inception in 2020, including 171 in the current cohort.
Keynote speaker, Professor Yinka Omorogbe (SAN), stressed the importance of investing in teachers to drive national development, adding that a well-trained workforce contributes to sustainable progress.
A panel session featuring education experts and STEP alumni explored the impact of continuous investment in education. Awards were presented to the top 10 teachers, while the top three innovative projects from the training received special recognition.
A major highlight of the event was the graduation of 327 teachers and 15 Chief Inspectors of Education from the 2024 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme.
