Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State  has said that the hope for a better future
and for Nigerian children depended on the commitment of teachers.

Akpabio made the assertion in Uyo while addressing the 2012
World Teachers’ Day Celebration in Akwa Ibom.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Nsima
Ekere, described teachers “as engineers moulding the generation of our
children.”

“We see teachers as strategic partners in the uncommon
transformation of our state.

“We see teachers as the vital link between today and
tomorrow,’’ Akpabio said, adding that his administration would continue to
invest in education and the welfare of teachers.

The governor urged the teachers to love the children and
their profession, saying that the influence of the teacher on his generation
was enormous.

Akpabio noted that this year’s theme of teachers
celebration, “Take a Stand for Teachers” was very apt and an invitation for a
better pay package for teachers.

He said that his administration took the decision to stand
for the teachers the very day he took the oath of office as the governor in
2007.

In her goodwill message, the state Head of Civil Service,
Mrs Cecilia Udoessien, said that teachers the world over were known to be
“great nation builders”, adding that this year’s theme was also meant to
“better teaching and learning environment in our schools as well as improved
condition of service.”

In his address of welcome, the State Chairman of the union,
Mr James Inim, appealed to the state government to recruit more teachers to
meet the high school enrolment occasioned by free education policy.

He called on the state government to pay allowances for
teachers that accept to teach in rural areas as incentives.

Inim also urged the government to release the promotion
results of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for primary school and secondary school
teachers.