By Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD
“If you were me, would you want to be like you?” This is the question the children and mentees of teachers now ask them. Meanwhile, there was a time in Nigeria when parents proudly introduced their children as teachers. A classroom teacher was regarded as a custodian of knowledge, a moral guide and a respected member of society. The profession may not have made many people wealthy, but it offered dignity, honour and a sense of purpose. Today, however, the story has changed considerably. Increasingly, young Nigerians are reluctant to pursue teaching as a career, while many trained teachers are eager to leave the classroom at the earliest opportunity. This growing disinterest raises an important question: what happens to a nation when no one wants to teach anymore?
Teaching occupies a unique position among all professions. Every doctor, engineer, lawyer, pilot, journalist and professor passed through the hands of a teacher. The classroom is where nations cultivate the human capital that drives economic growth, innovation and social transformation. It is therefore ironic that the very profession responsible for producing every other professional often receives the least recognition and reward. You now need healthy self esteem to be proud of yourself as a teacher at any level at all in Nigeria. Even university lecturers are not even exempted.
Several factors have contributed to the declining attractiveness of teaching. The first is poor remuneration. While there have been efforts by governments to improve teachers’ welfare, many teachers still struggle with salaries that do not reflect the importance of their work. Delayed payments, inadequate allowances and limited opportunities for financial advancement discourage talented graduates from considering teaching as a lifelong profession. Understandably, many young people prefer careers that promise greater financial stability.
Another challenge is the declining social prestige attached to teaching. In contemporary Nigerian society, success is frequently measured by visible wealth rather than social contribution. Occupations associated with high income and public glamour receive admiration, while teaching is often unfairly viewed as a profession for those who could not secure “better” jobs. Such perceptions, though inaccurate and unjust, influence career choices among young people.
The working conditions in many schools also contribute to the problem. Overcrowded classrooms, inadequate instructional materials, poor infrastructure and excessive administrative responsibilities make teaching more demanding than rewarding. A teacher who must manage over a hundred students in a poorly ventilated classroom with limited teaching aids cannot be expected to perform at optimum capacity. When passion is continually tested by unfavourable conditions, burnout becomes inevitable.
The consequences of this trend extend far beyond the education sector. If the brightest minds avoid teaching, the quality of classroom instruction gradually declines. Poor teaching produces poorly prepared graduates, weakens national productivity and ultimately affects every sector of the economy. A country cannot build a first-class educational system with a profession that talented individuals increasingly avoid. The shortage of competent teachers today may become the shortage of competent professionals tomorrow.
Yet, the solution is not merely to recruit more teachers. Nigeria must restore the dignity of the teaching profession. Dignity begins with fair compensation. Teachers should receive salaries and benefits that reflect the strategic importance of their role in national development. Competitive remuneration is not charity; it is an investment in the country’s future.
Professional development is equally important. Teachers deserve continuous training that equips them with modern pedagogical skills, digital competencies and opportunities for career progression. A profession that encourages lifelong learning attracts lifelong commitment. Equally essential is creating clear pathways for promotion based on competence, innovation and impact rather than simply years of service.
Society also has a role to play. Parents should reinforce respect for teachers before their children. The media should highlight inspiring stories of exceptional educators rather than portraying teaching as a profession of last resort. Religious institutions, community leaders and policymakers should consistently acknowledge the invaluable contributions teachers make to nation-building. Respect is not sustained by words alone but by collective attitudes and deliberate actions.
Higher institutions must also attract high-performing students into education programmes through scholarships, grants and merit-based incentives. Faculties of education should not be the hope of those who are unable to get their desired courses. Teaching should become a profession that brilliant students proudly choose, not one they reluctantly accept after failing to secure admission into other disciplines. Countries with high-performing educational systems deliberately recruit and retain their best graduates in teaching because they understand that educational excellence begins with excellent teachers.
Ultimately, the question is not whether Nigeria needs teachers. It always will. The real question is whether Nigeria is willing to make teaching a profession worthy of its indispensable role. A nation that neglects its teachers gradually mortgages its future because classrooms are where tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and problem-solvers are shaped.
When no one wants to be in the classroom anymore, the crisis extends beyond empty staff rooms or declining enrolment in colleges of education. It becomes a national emergency. Restoring the dignity of teaching is therefore not simply an educational agenda; it is a developmental imperative. If Nigeria truly desires sustainable progress, it must once again make the classroom a place where competent, motivated and respected professionals are proud to belong. A country that neglects teachers will perpetually deal with cheaters. Teaching is a noble profession and restoring the dignity of the profession is both important and urgent.
(c) 2026 Ganiu Bamgbose writes from Lagos.
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose, PhD
Department of English,
Lagos State University, Ojo
[email protected]
08093695359, 07084956118
