Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said teachers remain indispensable despite the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and other technologies that are changing how knowledge is accessed and delivered.
Alausa made the statement in Abuja on Monday, October 5, during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration and the President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards.
The event was held under the theme, “Protecting and Advancing the Status of the Teaching Profession in a Rapidly Changing World,” with discussions centred on the future of teaching in an era increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.
The minister acknowledged that AI is already changing education by making information more accessible and providing tools that can help teachers reach students and tailor lessons to individual learning needs.
However, he stressed that technology cannot replace the human qualities that teachers bring into the classroom.
According to Alausa, the judgement, encouragement and human connection provided by a skilled teacher remain essential to effective learning.
He called for greater efforts to train Nigerian teachers to use AI and other emerging technologies responsibly and confidently, while ensuring that professional standards and the values of teaching are protected.
The minister also said teachers deserve greater professional respect, opportunities for career development, appropriate teaching resources and working conditions that enable them to perform their duties effectively.
Alausa described teachers as the foundation upon which other professions are built, noting that doctors, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and public servants all passed through the hands of teachers during their development.
He said the Federal Government’s education reforms include efforts to improve learning environments, strengthen institutions, develop skills for a changing economy, improve the use of reliable education data and enhance teacher welfare and professional development.
The minister further emphasised that teachers in both urban centres and remote communities should have access to the tools and institutional support needed to help students succeed.
He also called for stronger cooperation between the Federal Government, state governments, school authorities, professional bodies, organised labour, development partners, communities and parents.
At the awards ceremony, Alausa congratulated teachers, school administrators and institutions recognised for professionalism, innovation and leadership.
He also acknowledged the contributions of teachers who did not receive awards, stressing that their daily work remains important to the future of Nigerian children.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape education and the workplace, the minister’s message was that Nigeria should embrace new technology without losing sight of the human role at the heart of education.
Alausa urged teachers across the country to maintain their commitment to professionalism and service while preparing themselves for a rapidly changing educational environment.