Bukola Afeni
The Convener of Let There Be Teachers Conference 2026, Oluwaseyi Anifowose, has called on all teachers to rise, lead, and transform the education sector in Nigeria.
Speaking at the official flag-off and press conference in Abuja, Anifowose, who holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Gathering of Teachers in the World, said the 2026 edition would shift focus from applause to accountability, and from celebration to commitment.
The Convener added that the conference is a National Hope Attempt for Teachers.
“Somewhere in Nigeria today, a teacher is standing in front of a class, doing their best with what they have. No camera, No applause, No recognition, Just responsibility.
“That quiet moment, repeated across thousands of classrooms, is where in reality the future of this nation is being decided.”
He stressed that the classrooms, not policy rooms or boardrooms, remain the real centres of national development.
Anifowose noted that the historic gathering at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, last year, which earned global attention, was never the destination but the start of a journey.
According to him, Let There Be Teachers Conference 2026 is about reform in the education sector.
“We are moving from Record to Reform. From Success to Significance. From Applause to Accountability. From Celebration to Commitment.”
In the same vein, he said the conference will also launch two major initiatives; The Happy Teacher App and the Graduate Teachers Fellowship.
Anifowose explained that the Happy Teacher App is designed to support teachers in their professional growth, their financial stability, and their personal wellbeing.
While on the other hand, The Graduate Teachers Fellowship will prepare the next generation of teachers, not just to enter the classroom, but to excel, lead and transform the process.
The Executive Director of Let There Be Teachers, Sola Adeola Amudipe, disclosed that the initiative is the beginning of great transformation in the education sector which will bring about national development.
“Nigerian Teachers have been overlooked for too long. If we are serious about national development, then we must be serious about those who stand at the front of our classrooms every single day”.
The Director, Colleges of Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Uchenna Uba, who was represented by Dr Iyabode Alli, highlighted the dire need for collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector.
“There is no education system that will rise above the quality of the teachers.
We need to support, empower and value our teachers”.
The Director, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Yomi Otubela, who was represented by Dr Johnson Da-silver, called on state Ministries of Education to provide free education to those interested in the Teaching Profession.
“We must dignify the Teaching Profession so as to shape the narrative in the society. We want to create an environment where Teachers can thrive in the society.”
