IAUE Holds 69th Inaugural Lecture, Calls for Teachers to Be the Highest Paid Workers

At the 69th inaugural lecture of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Professor Hellen Sokari Adox-Okujagu, a Professor of Early Childhood and Primary Education, made a strong case for teachers to be the highest paid workers in every country, stressing their pivotal role in shaping the future of societies.

Delivering the lecture on Thursday, August 14, 2025, she explained that teachers work under constant pressure while also serving as mentors and guides, instilling in children resilience, adaptability, and a growth mindset. These attributes, she noted, empower learners to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and develop the essential skills that position them as future inventors.

Professor Adox-Okujagu stressed that teachers deserve dignity and convenience in their profession, including allowances that guarantee access to essential services and house allowances that provide safe and comfortable living. She emphasized that retirement benefits and gratuities should never be compromised, arguing that teachers should be able to look back with pride and affirm that “it was nice being a child educator.”

Speaking on the theme “Yesterday’s Toys, Tomorrow’s Tools: The Child Pedagogue Invents Inventors,” she underscored the value of toys in child education. According to her, objects such as pebbles, dolls, puzzles, blocks, cans, sand, and everyday household items are not mere amusements but formative tools that stimulate creativity, problem-solving, and cognitive development. These toys, she said, lay the groundwork for the intellectual skills and practical abilities that future inventors rely on in different fields of human endeavor.

She further explained that the role of the child pedagogue goes beyond traditional instruction, evolving into that of a facilitator, co-explorer, and nurturer of curiosity. By encouraging play-based learning, open-ended activities, and imaginative exploration, teachers create environments where children can experiment, innovate, and develop solutions without fear of failure.

Professor Adox-Okujagu encouraged educators to embrace technology, including artificial intelligence in toy design, while maintaining strong links between model-based learning and real-world application. She cautioned, however, that the Nigerian education system is weakened by the large number of individuals—about 85 percent, by her estimation—who only take up teaching as a temporary occupation while waiting for “better jobs.” Such attitudes, she argued, undermine the integrity of the profession and the development of future innovators.

She called for deliberate training of teachers in safe and supportive environments with access to modern resources. According to her, the child pedagogue must embody creativity, empathy, patience, and passion for learning, while rejecting rigid approaches that focus solely on rote memorization. Instead, teachers should foster curiosity, guide discovery, and stimulate innovation through their didactical approaches.

Commending the lecture, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, applauded Professor Adox-Okujagu for sharing her expertise and demonstrating practical approaches to teaching through the toys she displayed. He reminded lecturers of their responsibility to uphold high standards and recognize their critical role in shaping lives across all sectors.

The Registrar of IAUE, Dr. Chinonye Abraham Ajie, described the lecture as a “five-star presentation,” while the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako, expressed appreciation to all who graced the occasion.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, also noted that the lecture reflected IAUE’s continued commitment to showcasing academic excellence and advancing conversations on education in Nigeria.