The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), has called on the Federal and state governments to invest more in private-school teachers and establish a dedicated financing mechanism for the education sector.
The NAPPS Chairman, Ogbomoso North, Pst. Wale Ojewumi, made the call in a statement to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, observed annually on October 5.
Ojewumi said the celebration should go beyond speeches and appreciation messages, urging governments to prioritise the professional development, welfare and working conditions of teachers across the country.
He stressed that teachers in private schools were an integral part of Nigeria’s education workforce and should have access to professional development, digital-skills training, modern teaching methods, leadership development and other capacity-building opportunities.
“Every teacher who stands before a Nigerian child is contributing to the nation’s future, regardless of whether the teacher works in a public or private school,” he said.
He called for a national framework that would make continuous professional development more accessible, with government agencies partnering NAPPS and other stakeholders to provide subsidised training for teachers.
According to him, such programmes should cover digital teaching, artificial intelligence, classroom management, child psychology, inclusive education, STEM, curriculum implementation and leadership.
Ojewumi also renewed his call for the establishment of a dedicated Bank of Education or specialised financing window to provide affordable funding to credible educational providers.
He proposed single-digit-interest loans for classroom construction and renovation, laboratories, libraries, digital infrastructure, solar power, school buses, furniture, teacher training and expansion of schools into underserved communities.
“If agriculture is important enough to have a Bank of Agriculture, and industry is important enough to have a Bank of Industry, then education deserves a dedicated financing mechanism,” he said.
The NAPPS chairman argued that affordable financing would enable school owners to improve facilities, acquire modern equipment, train teachers and provide better working conditions.
“When we support the school, we indirectly support the teacher. When we support the teacher, we strengthen the education of the child,” Ojewumi said.
He urged the government to move beyond regulating private schools and formulate policies that would enable them to grow and contribute more effectively to national development.
Acknowledging the rising cost of school operations and economic pressure on families, Ojewumi said government-backed financing could help schools remain affordable while sustaining employment for teachers.
He also urged private-school proprietors to continue investing in their teachers and improving their welfare.
“Government has a responsibility, but school owners also have a responsibility. The quality of our schools can never be greater than the quality of the people who work in them,” he said.
Ojewumi called for collaboration among government, regulators, financial institutions, school proprietors and other stakeholders to build a properly funded and equipped education system.
“This Teachers’ Day, let us do more than say ‘thank you’ to our teachers. Let us invest in the people educating our future,” he added.
