World Teachers’ Day: Okpebholo Pledges Better Welfare for Edo Teachers, Cites 11,000 Jobs.

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has assured teachers across the state that his administration will continue to prioritise their welfare and strengthen the education sector.

Okpebholo gave the assurance in a message on Monday, 5th October, 2026, to mark World Teachers’ Day, while commending teachers for their dedication and sacrifices in educating children across the state.

The governor said teachers remained vital to the development of the society, acknowledgng that considerable progress depended on investing in those responsible for preparing children and young people for the future.

He also praised public school teachers for their service and patriotism, saying their responsibilities extended beyond classroom teaching to shaping the values, skills and character of future leaders.

According to him, his administration had absorbed 5,000 contract teachers into the Edo State Civil Service, giving them greater job security, while another 6,000 teachers had been recruited to address staffing shortages in public schools.

“We cannot build schools and leave them without teachers. Our priority is to ensure that our children have access to qualified teachers, whether they are in Benin City or in our rural communities,” Okpebholo said.

The governor added that his administration would continue to invest in teachers, schools and the wider education system, stressing that quality education required motivated and adequately supported teachers.

The 5,000-teacher absorption was previously reported in October 2025, when the state government began issuing appointment letters to contract teachers who had been engaged under the previous administration.

Okpebholo congratulated teachers across Edo State and thanked them for their contribution to the state’s development.

“To every teacher in Edo State, I say thank you for your service. Happy World Teachers’ Day,” he said.

The statement was signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr Patrick Akhere Ebojele, on Monday. World Teachers’ Day is observed annually on the 5th of October and recognises the contribution of teachers while drawing attention to their working conditions and professional status.