The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Angela Ajala, has cautioned that continued neglect of teacher education could have far-reaching consequences for national development.
Ajala made the remarks in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria on Tuesday, according to a statement signed by ECAN Secretary, Clement Idoko, on Wednesday.
She stressed that the quality of teachers ultimately determines the strength of every other profession in the country.
“If we get it wrong with a teacher, just know that Nigeria is finished. Every engineer, doctor, scientist, entrepreneur, politician and leader passes through the hands of a teacher. Teacher education lies at the heart of national development,” she declared.
She warned against the persistent undervaluing of the teaching profession, arguing that its impact on society is often underestimated despite its central role in shaping future leaders.
“You can fix a faulty car. But when a teacher damages a child in the classroom, that damage can last a lifetime. Those children become the future professionals and leaders of society,” the NCCE boss stated.
Ajala also urged stronger collaboration with the media to change public perception of teaching and support ongoing reforms in the sector.
“You are not just reporters; you are reformers.
“What you report shapes public opinion, influences policy conversations and changes mindsets. We need responsible reporting that reflects the true importance of teacher education,” she told the ECAN delegation.
She lamented what she described as the decline in respect for teachers over the years.
“Something went wrong along the way. We moved from a society where teachers were highly respected to one where people say, ‘If you have nothing else to do, go and become a teacher.’ That narrative must change,” she said.
Defending recent policy changes affecting admissions into Colleges of Education, she dismissed concerns that removing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination requirement would lower standards.
The NCCE boss explained, “What is UTME? It is a two-hour examination. It is not an achievement test. Decisions like these were not taken arbitrarily; they were based on evidence, data and projections about the future of teacher education in Nigeria.”
She also warned of a looming shortage of teachers if enrolment in teacher training institutions does not improve.
“In some colleges, you find only about 30 students spread across 10 programmes. The attrition rate is alarming. If we do not act now, Nigeria may not have enough teachers in the near future,” Ajala cautioned.
Regarding reforms in the sector, she stated that ongoing changes were aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of graduates from Colleges of Education.
“Who else offers that opportunity? Colleges of Education are becoming institutions where students can earn multiple qualifications and acquire international skills that make them globally competitive,” the ES said.
She added that curriculum reforms were being implemented to align teacher training with global best practices.
“People often cite Finland, Singapore and other countries as models. When you compare their curricula with ours, you will find that Nigeria is not far behind. What we need is proper implementation and a change in perception,” she stated.
Earlier, ECAN chairman, Chucks Ukwuatu, praised Ajala’s appointment as the first female Executive Secretary of the NCCE and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to responsible reporting on education issues.
The visit ended with both sides expressing commitment to deeper collaboration aimed at strengthening teacher education and improving outcomes across Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
Recently, over 40 teachers and students were reportedly kidnapped on May 15, 2026, during a coordinated attack in the Ahoro-Esiele area of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.