EXCELLENT TEACHERS, THE UNIZIK SPIRIT
UNIZIK INDUCTS 1,153 EDUCATION GRADUANDS INTO TEACHING PROFESSION
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, has inducted 1,153 graduands of its Faculty of Education into the teaching profession at the 13th Induction/Oath-Taking Ceremony organised in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The ceremony, held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, was themed “From Classroom to Nation Building: The Role of Professional Teachers in Nigeria’s Development.”
Speaking as Chairman of the Occasion, a member of the UNIZIK Governing Council, Rev. Fr. Prof. Ikenga Ken E. Oraegbunam described teaching as a fundamental profession whose importance to society cannot be overemphasized, noting that teachers play a parental role in shaping the character and future of children.
He explained that the establishment of TRCN followed agitations by professionally trained teachers for a regulatory body to register and regulate the teaching profession, which was previously open to all comers. He described teaching as both a profession and a vocation, stressing that teachers are responsible for preparing individuals who would eventually become leaders and professionals in other fields.
Prof. Oraegbunam congratulated the over 1,000 graduands being inducted and commended the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education for their contributions to teacher preparation, describing education as the mother of all sciences.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Bioscience, Prof. Kenneth Ekwealor, described teaching as a divine calling and a special gift through which individuals are equipped to impart knowledge and guide others towards personal and societal development.
He noted that not everyone who possesses knowledge can effectively teach, stressing that the ability to impart knowledge and nurture others requires a special gift. Drawing from the biblical account in Job 32:8, he emphasised the importance of divine understanding in the effective discharge of the teaching responsibility.
The Vice-Chancellor further described teachers as people who must remain committed to guiding and inspiring learners, even when others may have given up on them, adding that their influence extends beyond the classroom to the entire society. He congratulated the graduands and commended the organisers for putting together the ceremony.
In her address, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof. Ebele C. Okigbo, described the induction as a significant transition from academic preparation to the professional responsibilities of teaching.
She noted that teachers are nation-builders who shape minds, nurture talents, instil values and inspire generations, adding that the quality of teachers produced today would significantly influence Nigeria's future leadership, innovation and development.
Prof. Okigbo reaffirmed the Faculty's commitment to producing competent, innovative, ethical and professionally grounded teachers capable of responding to the changing demands of 21st-century education. She urged the graduands to embrace continuous professional development, particularly in the areas of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and emerging teaching methods.
Delivering the induction lecture titled “From Classroom to Nation Building: The Role of Professional Teachers in Nigeria’s Development,” the Global
President of the UNIZIK Alumni Association, Prof. Ikechukwu Innocent Umeh, described teaching as a purposeful profession that educates, guides and develops individuals, noting that teachers remain central to human capital development, innovation, productivity, peace and national cohesion.
He identified facilitating learning, building character, creating and sharing knowledge, mentoring, problem-solving and innovation as key responsibilities of teachers, stressing that every leader, innovator and professional was once a student under the guidance of a teacher.
Prof. Umeh emphasised that professionalism goes beyond academic qualifications, explaining that teachers must demonstrate competence, ethical conduct, adherence to professional standards and commitment to continuous growth. He described the professional oath as a daily commitment to competence, fairness, safeguarding, integrity and lifelong learning.
Addressing challenges in Nigeria's education sector, he identified learning gaps, inadequate funding and resources, and digital inequality as issues requiring attention. He urged teachers to focus on actual learning outcomes, adapt to available resources and strengthen partnerships with families and communities.
He further called for teachers who are digitally competent, inclusive, creative, collaborative, critical thinkers and ethically grounded, noting that their impact should extend beyond examination results to developing responsible citizens and inspiring curiosity among learners.
In an address presented on behalf of the Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN, Dr. (Mrs.) Ronke Soyombo, by Dr. Mary Ogbene Abah, Director, Compliance and Enforcement, TRCN, she congratulated the graduands and described their induction as a transition from academic preparation to professional responsibility.
She stressed that the true measure of a teacher's achievement should be determined not only by academic certificates but also by the quality of lives influenced, knowledge imparted and values upheld. She explained that TRCN, established under the TRCN Act, Cap. T3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, is mandated to regulate and control the teaching profession in Nigeria, adding that professional induction reinforces the need for competence, certification, accountability and lifelong learning.
Dr. Abah urged the newly inducted teachers to uphold professional ethics, respect the dignity of every learner and provide safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments. She also encouraged them to embrace the Council's Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme to strengthen their knowledge and teaching competencies.
She further highlighted the Council's efforts to strengthen teacher professionalism through professional standards, digitalisation of services, improved registration and licensing processes, and the development of a structured teacher career pathway. She disclosed that the Federal Government's policy direction requires Nigerian teachers to be registered and licensed by TRCN by December 2027.
The TRCN representative reminded the inductees that the professional oath was a solemn commitment to integrity, responsible conduct and service to humanity, urging them to protect learners, maintain professional boundaries and demonstrate through their conduct that teaching is a profession worthy of respect.
The ceremony featured the induction and administration of the Oath of Practice to the 1,153 graduands by the TRCN Registrar, alongside the presentation of awards to the induction lecturer, Prof. Ikechukwu Innocent Umeh; Chairman of the Occasion, Rev. Fr. Prof. Ikenga Ken E. Oraegbunam; Rev. Fr. Hilary Nwajagu; and Mrs. Ngozi Charles.
The ceremony brought together distinguished guests, members of the university community, education stakeholders, parents and guardians, as well as the newly inducted teachers.
Public Relations Unit, UNIZIK
(©2026)
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