Governor Bello of Kogi State

The National Teachers Institute (NTI) on Monday commenced training for 100 Government Secondary Schools teachers in Kogi under the aegis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five­-day workshop was organised by the institute in collaboration with the Kogi Government.

Prof. Garba Azare, the Director-General of the institute at the opening ceremony of the workshop said that the training would enhance participant’s knowledge in Language Communication Skills.

Azare added that the training would also improve the teachers in Basic Classroom Teaching Methods and Techniques, Effective Management Skills, Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He noted that the participants would be trained in Academic Leadership, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SENDs), HIV/AIDS Awareness and Digital Literacy.

Azare, who was represented by Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, the Principal Accountant of the institute, said that Nigerian teachers deserved all the encouragement to enable them performed optimally on the job.

He said that the teachers should also be encouraged to undergo regular retraining programmes that would equip them with the current best practices around the globe, as they deserved improved remuneration.

According to him, sponsoring teachers to participate in capacity building programmes such as this will enhance their cutting edge as professional classroom teachers.

The director-general, however, appealed to relevant stakeholders to ensure timely release of funds meant for the purpose of organising retraining programmes.

Azare also urged the State Governors to help the institute by partnering with NTI at affordable costs to train teachers.

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, congratulated the participants for being part of the first 100 teachers that would be trained in Kogi as master trainers.

Osikoya urged them to ensure they utilise the golden opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge on the job, stressing the need for the teachers to add professional value to themselves.

According to her, Kogi has about 24, 000 teachers and only 100 are being trained in the first phase.

“There is the need for teachers to be skilled, competent, trained and motivated’’.

The commissioner thanked the Federal Government for the support, and commended the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for making education a topmost priority among the five thematic areas of his administration.

“Fortunately, this training coincides with the Commonwealth Day, which affords our children to know the 53 member nations of Commonwealth.

“We need to give our children the required standard learning”, the commissioner said.

One of the participants, Bidemi Owolabi, told NAN that she was greatly impressed with the training, adding that it was an indication that the state governor has the interest of the children and the teachers at heart.

“I am very happy to be one of the 100 teachers that will be trained as master trainers to train others.

“I will surely pay rapt attention to gain a lot from it”, Owolabi said.

NAN also reports that students from various secondary schools across the state gathered at the training venue to showcase the flags and history of all the 53 commonwealth member nations.