Institute Urges Teachers To Lead Moral, Intellectual Rebirth

By GBODIYAN OLUWAKEMI KAREN, Abuja

The country director of the Chartered Institute of Teaching, Dr Okonofua Theophilus Cornerstone, has said that nations collapse first in the hands of teachers before they fail under politicians.

Okonofua stated this in an interview with LEADERSHIP in Abuja during the 5th induction of the institute’s teaching specialists.

He said teachers are the first formal leaders of any nation, noting that political leaders are themselves products of the classroom.

The institute boss explained that when teachers fail in their responsibility, the consequences are reflected in the quality of leadership a nation produces, adding that the institute is committed to raising capable teachers who can meet the professional and ethical standards expected of the profession.

“There is a pedigree attached to teaching, and if we fail to live up to it, we risk merely appearing in classrooms without truly educating learners,” he said.

Okonofua emphasised that while teaching may take place in many classrooms, learning does not always occur, attributing this gap to weak teaching methods and called for a renewed focus on effective teaching that delivers measurable learning outcomes.

He urged teachers to embrace value-based education, stressing that a nation is built on values before knowledge and information.

According to him, the erosion of societal values is a major challenge confronting the country, making it imperative for teachers to lead a moral and intellectual rebirth.

“It takes a community to raise a child, and that process is rooted in shared values. Our society is gradually losing these values, and teachers must take responsibility for restoring them,” he said.

He added that Nigerian teachers should be confident in their skills and professionalism, stating that with the right training and orientation, they can secure teaching opportunities anywhere in the world rather than seeking unrelated jobs abroad.