An Educational Researcher, Dr. Peter Ogudoro, has tasked graduates on the need to repay sacrifices of teachers and schools that shaped their journeys by investing in education and future learners.
Ogudoro, also leader of the Nigerian Teachers Community (NTC) made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
He noted that graduates should recognise teachers as their first point of appreciation because they provided knowledge, skills and values that contributed to their achievements.
“Teachers should be their first point of call to appreciate and then, the institution they graduated from, because they helped them acquire knowledge, skills and the right values,” he said.
Ogudoro said acknowledging teachers would go a long way in restoring their sense of value and encourage more talented Nigerians to consider teaching as a career.
He attributed the poor perception of teaching in the country partly to inadequate appreciation, saying many teachers continued to feel unrecognised, in spite of their contributions to national development.
The researcher noted that it was important for successful graduates to devote a fraction of their income to supporting former teachers and schools that provided platforms for their education and success.
He said such support would provide additional resources and support for the school, while motivating the teachers and school management to contribute more meaningfully to society.
Ogudoro noted that universities in developed countries benefited significantly from contributions by alumni who supported their former institutions financially.
“Many institutions abroad do receive significant support as a give back from alumni who devote part of their earnings to the schools that educated them,” he added.
The NTC leader said some alumni also included educational institutions in their wills, leaving substantial resources to support quality education for future generations.
According to him, Nigeria must promote a culture of educational philanthropy to reduce pressure on government and improve funding for institutions.
He said stronger partnerships among graduates, teachers, schools and government, would contribute significantly to improving the quality of education across the country.