Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has received the Golden Award of Excellence for Education and Teacher Friendliness from the National Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). The honour was presented on Sunday during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle Square in Abuja. The recognition celebrates his administration’s major reforms in the education sector and its strong commitment to teachers’ welfare.
Governor Radda, while receiving the award, said his government had devoted more than 25 percent of the state’s budget in the past two years to education. He described this as an unprecedented commitment that underscores his administration’s focus on improving the learning system and empowering teachers across Katsina State.
“We have conducted a major recruitment exercise that was never done in this country, recruiting over 7,000 teachers at once. We are now introducing rural incentives for our rural teachers to encourage them and give them the most needed attention for the development of our nation,” the Governor stated.
He further stressed that investing in education means investing in the future, adding that teachers play a central role in building both the state and the nation. “We commend you, we encourage you, and we will try to do everything we are able to do to make your lives better,” he told the large gathering of teachers who attended the event.
Governor Radda dedicated the award to all teachers in Katsina State and expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Union of Teachers for their consistent collaboration and support. “On behalf of our government, our colleagues and all the students of our state, we thank the union, we thank the Nigerian teachers, and we wish you well,” he added.
The 2025 World Teachers’ Day, themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” brought together education stakeholders from different parts of the country. The event was organized to celebrate the contributions of teachers to national development and to encourage ongoing partnerships that strengthen the education system.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, noted that collaborative teaching has gained global recognition as a powerful approach to improving learning outcomes. He highlighted that this method helps teachers share knowledge and experiences that enhance classroom performance.
The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to strengthening teacher collaboration. She mentioned key initiatives such as the National Teacher Development Policy (2022), the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and the creation of Professional Learning Communities in schools.
President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for maintaining the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award. He also appreciated governors who have supported teachers and actively participated in the observance of World Teachers’ Day.
Comrade Amba called on education stakeholders and citizens to continue honouring teachers for their vital contributions to shaping the nation’s future and positively influencing society.
Other award recipients included Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, representatives of UNESCO, and the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) also delivered goodwill messages during the ceremony.
Governor Radda’s administration has introduced comprehensive education reforms in Katsina State, including large-scale teacher recruitment, infrastructure development, professional training programmes, rural teacher incentives, and a significant increase in budgetary allocation to the education sector. These policies have positioned the state as one of the most proactive in prioritizing education and teacher welfare in Nigeria.