By Soliu Owoyabu, Abeokuta
As the world set to celebrate this year's World Teachers' Day, two media organizations, Salient Times and The State Post in conjunction with the Ogun State government have concluded a plan to celebrate and reward teachers working in rural areas, for their contributions to the growth of education in the state.
The Publisher, Salient Times Newspaper, Mr Abiodun Taiwo, who disclosed this at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said no fewer than 13 rural teachers would be given cash gifts and valuables at a ceremony which will take place on October 5.
According to Taiwo, the reason for celebrating rural teachers is to serve as means of encouraging hard work among teachers posted to villages and remote areas.
He noted that many teachers see postings to the rural areas as punishments, saying that this led to increasing in refusal of this call to duty.
"We have designed this programme to accord honour to those who readily accept rural posting without complaint".
"We are giving cash prizes to the star winner, and twelve others. We have selected six individuals from primary schools and six from secondary schools also".
Taiwo lamented that education in rural areas in Nigeria comes with poor infrastructures such as lack of electricity, poor road network, lack of potable water, lack of health care facilities, lack of security, and insufficient teaching staff.
While positing that Nigeria is predominantly a rural society as the vast majority of its population lives in rural areas, he lamented that rural areas in Nigeria are usually neglected and overlooked.
"The two media organisations, Salient Times and The StatePost understand the need for good quality education in rural areas, as it helps keep rural areas populated. Young people move to urban areas for better opportunities in education and employment".
"We believe that improved rural education is one possible strategy for keeping them in rural areas".
"We, therefore, agreed that rural teachers must be motivated and encouraged".
He commends Dapo Abiodun-led government for
identifying the education sector as catalysing change in the development of the State.
"We have seen how he is giving priority attention to delivering the dividends of democracy through qualitative education to the people of the state because he believes that the best way to fight poverty is to empower people through quality education".
"The innovative and impactful ideas Governor Abiodun brought to bear in the education sector are what we at Salient Times and The State Post saw that made us harness our resources and contact well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders to motivate our teachers in the rural areas".
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