🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Stakeholders advocate for prioritizing teacher welfare and professional development in Nigeria
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Education stakeholders, government representatives, and development partners convened in Abuja for the Let There Be Teachers Conference 2026, advocating for sustained investment in teachers' welfare, motivation, and professional development to achieve meaningful education reform. The conference, supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, aimed to move beyond symbolic recognition to structural reforms that prioritize the teaching profession. Oluwaseyi Anifowose, the conference convener, highlighted the initiative's focus on restoring dignity to teaching and addressing the daily realities of teachers across Nigeria. He announced a movement to mobilize at least 200,000 teachers nationwide, with 5,000 in every state and 20,000 in the Federal Capital Territory, to take responsibility for their classrooms and the future. This mobilization will culminate in teachers taking the National Teachers’ Professional Pledge in October 2026, repositioning them as active drivers of educational transformation. Sola Adeola, the Executive Director, emphasized the program's goal to amplify teachers' voices and address long-standing structural challenges, stating that education cannot rise above the quality, visibility, and dignity of its teachers. Rhoda Odigboh, the Project Director, added that the initiative aims to strengthen teacher agency and ensure educators are included in national education reform conversations. Uchenna Uba, Director of the College of Education, Federal Ministry of Edu
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima described Lagos State as Africa's economic "live wire" at the Invest Lagos Summit 3.0. He praised the city's economic history, leadership, and role in national prosperity, stating that Lagos is where ideas are tested and national ambitions are refined into practical outcomes. Shettima credited Lagos for producing influential business figures, including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu, Africa's richest and second richest men, respectively, emphasizing that they emerged from the Lagos economic environment. He also noted that Lagos has made "almost everybody who is who in Nigeria," adding, "I am also a Lagos boy." The Vice President highlighted Lagos as a model of governance and economic resilience, attributing its transformation to successive leadership, including the foundation laid by President Bola Tinubu. He stated that Lagos has evolved from facing severe urban challenges to becoming a major economic center, contributing significantly to Nigeria's GDP and hosting five of Africa's nine unicorn companies, all based in Lagos.
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested eight foreign nationals suspected of involvement in a transnational criminal syndicate that staged kidnappings to extort ransom from families abroad. DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the command’s spokesperson, stated that detectives from the Ifo Division uncovered the operation following intelligence-led investigations. The suspects were apprehended in Adiyan Town, Agbado area, after police received intelligence on June 6, 2026, about a reported kidnapping that was later found to be staged. The report indicated that Cheik El-Mehdi, a 23-year-old Mauritanian national, contacted his family in May 2026, claiming he had been kidnapped in Nigeria and demanding ransom. Another suspect, Zakaria Zawadogo, allegedly reinforced the demand with threats. The investigation led operatives to a hideout where the suspects were tracked and arrested. Those arrested include Zakaria Zawadogo Burkina Faso, Cheik El-Mehdi Mauritania, Suren Neta Ivory Coast, Koffi Breno Ivory Coast, Gondo Treso Ivory Coast, Kunuji Ezekiel Republic of Benin, Kougasi John Ivory Coast, and Hemue Blinsi Côte d’Ivoire. Preliminary findings suggest Suren Neta lured Cheik El-Mehdi into Nigeria, while Zakaria Zawadogo coordinated ransom demands. The purported victim was also found to have actively participated in orchestrating the fake abduction. The principal suspects have confessed, and the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. Commissioner of Police, B
Mr Femi Obong-Daniels, General Manager of Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info, stated that radio stations risk irrelevance if they do not adapt to changing audience habits in the digital era. He emphasized that the primary threat to the industry is uninspiring content, not social media. Obong-Daniels made these remarks during a keynote address at the 10th-anniversary celebration of LASU Radio 95.7FM, the campus radio station of Lagos State University. The event, held at the Femi Gbajabiamila Conference Centre, gathered broadcast industry leaders, academics, students, and media professionals to discuss the future of campus broadcasting. Speaking on the theme, “Campus Radio in the Digital Era: Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of LASU Radio,” Obong-Daniels, whose address was delivered by Mr Chuma Nnoli, Head of Sports at Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Nigeria Info, asserted that radio must evolve beyond traditional terrestrial broadcasting to remain relevant. He noted that the rise of social media, podcasting, streaming services, and artificial intelligence has altered how audiences consume information and entertainment. Obong-Daniels stressed that modern radio stations must transform into multimedia content hubs, engaging audiences across various digital platforms, and becoming content ecosystems, social media brands, podcast platforms, livestream hubs, community builders, and digital conversation engines. He also highlighted the role of campus radio stations as critical training g