Graduates Avoid Teaching Over Poor Salaries, FCE Ilawe Provost Tells NUJ Delegation 

By Joseph Sunday 

The Provost, Federal College of Education, Ilawe-Ekiti, Dr. Smart Olugbeko, has said Nigeria risks a severe shortage of qualified teachers if the government fails to urgently review salaries and welfare packages for educators.

Speaking to a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Olugbeko noted that poor remuneration is driving graduates away from the teaching profession.

Dr. Olugbeko sounded the alarm on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti State Council in his office.

He described poor remuneration and low societal value as the key reasons graduates shun teaching, noting that “education remains the least subscribed course in Nigeria because the returns on investment are not encouraging.” 

“Many teachers currently in primary and secondary schools are there simply because they could not secure employment elsewhere,” the Provost said. “If government begins to pay teachers attractive salaries, more people will willingly study education and embrace teaching as a career.”

He argued that even low-skilled jobs abroad offer better living standards than teaching in Nigeria, and stressed that restoring dignity to the profession is a “national challenge that requires urgent attention.”

Earlier, NUJ Secretary, Comrade O’Seun Ogunsakin, who led the delegation on behalf of Chairman, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, pledged the union’s partnership in three areas: publicity for the college’s achievements, professional training through the International Institute of Journalism, and joint policy advocacy to strengthen teacher education.

Ogunsakin also proposed establishing a Press Club in the college to nurture students with journalism interests, saying it would build communication and leadership skills alongside their teaching careers.

Dr. Olugbeko welcomed the NUJ’s overture, noting that no institution can thrive without media partnership. Both parties agreed that collaboration was vital to project the college’s vision of becoming a leading centre for teacher education while pushing for reforms to revive the sector.

Other members of the Management of the Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti present during the courtesy visit includes the Registrar, Dr. Khadijah Garba; the Public Relations Officer, Temilola Mercy Ajide and the Head of Administrative Department, Mrs
Omolola Olabisi.