The Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Professor Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, has disclosed that no teacher in Lagos State earns less than ₦150,000 per month, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to prioritizing teachers’ welfare and motivation.

She made this revelation during an event themed “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” held at LASUED’s Ijanikin campus on Monday to commemorate the 2025 World Teachers’ Day. The event brought together educators, policymakers, and education stakeholders to reflect on the challenges and future of teaching in Nigeria.

Lagos State’s Commitment to Teachers’ Welfare

Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye emphasized that Lagos State has one of the most competitive salary structures for teachers in Nigeria, noting that the government has consistently implemented policies to enhance the dignity and motivation of educators.

“In Lagos State, I can tell you authoritatively that we are building our teachers’ world, and no teacher goes home with less than ₦150,000 in the state. But we can do better,” she stated.

The Vice-Chancellor underscored that fair remuneration remains critical to improving education quality. According to her, when teachers are undervalued, underpaid, and unsupported, it erodes morale, triggers brain drain, and reduces the attractiveness of the profession to talented young people.

The Link Between Teacher Welfare and Quality Education

Speaking further, Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye noted that the quality of education in any society is directly tied to how teachers are treated. She called for continuous reforms to raise the professional and financial status of educators, adding that well-motivated teachers produce better learning outcomes.

“When teachers are motivated, adequately trained, and empowered, they inspire excellence in students and build societies that can compete globally,” she said.

Challenges Facing the Teaching Profession

While celebrating teachers for their selfless service, the LASUED VC also highlighted lingering challenges within the profession. She pointed out that many teachers across Nigeria still face issues such as:

• Poor working conditions and limited infrastructure.

• Insufficient access to professional development opportunities.

• Inadequate recognition from society.

She emphasized that addressing these problems is key to restoring pride in the teaching profession and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Call for Increased Investment in Education Infrastructure

Professor Lafiaji-Okuneye urged the Lagos State Government, in collaboration with TETFund and other education agencies, to allocate at least 20% of the state’s annual education budget toward upgrading classroom infrastructure.

She suggested that this funding should also cover the provision of digital learning tools, and the establishment of modern science and technology laboratories in public schools beginning from the 2026 fiscal year.

“Investment in modern classrooms and technology-driven education is essential for preparing both teachers and students for the future,” she added.

Recent Reforms in Teacher Development

At the federal level, efforts to professionalize and standardize teaching have also intensified. In August 2025, the Federal Ministry of Education launched a digital portal for teachers’ registration, licensing, and certification, managed under the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

Additionally, TRCN has streamlined its Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) from 23 subjects to five key areas — foundational mathematics, literacy, pedagogy, digital literacy, and safeguarding — to make certification more focused and efficient.

According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, non-education graduates with at least 12 months of classroom experience can now obtain certification through an abridged NTI programme, designed to formalize and strengthen the nation’s teaching workforce.

Looking Ahead

The LASUED VC concluded her remarks by celebrating the dedication of teachers across Lagos and Nigeria, urging continued reforms and recognition for their critical role in shaping the nation’s future.

Her statement reinforces Lagos State’s reputation as a pacesetter in education reforms and teacher welfare, setting an example for other states to emulate as Nigeria works toward achieving sustainable education development and global competitiveness.

Nigeria is currently in talks with China’s Export-Import Bank to secure a $2 billion loan aimed at financing a new “super grid” project that will transform the nation’s electricity transmission system. The initiative seeks to resolve Nigeria’s persistent power supply challenges and stimulate industrial growth by ensuring more stable and efficient electricity distribution nationwide.

Government’s Power Sector Vision

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced the plan during an economic summit in Abuja, emphasizing that the new super grid will connect Nigeria’s eastern and western regions — areas that host the country’s largest industrial consumers. The project, he explained, is part of the federal government’s broader agenda to decentralize power generation and encourage industrial users who have disconnected from the unreliable national grid to return.

“This is part of our plan to decentralize power generation in Nigeria and get the heavy commercial users that left the grid due to unreliability to return,” Adelabu stated.

He further revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has already approved financing for the project, underscoring its priority status within President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.

Why Nigeria Needs a Super Grid

Nigeria’s fragile power infrastructure has long been a major constraint on economic productivity. Despite an installed generation capacity of about 13 gigawatts, only a fraction—approximately 4 gigawatts—is typically delivered to consumers across a population exceeding 200 million.

For comparison, South Africa, with just a quarter of Nigeria’s population, boasts an installed capacity of around 70 gigawatts. This stark contrast highlights the scale of Nigeria’s power deficit.

The unreliability of the grid has forced many industries and households to generate their own power, often through diesel and gas generators, which account for nearly half of the electricity consumed nationwide. The proposed super grid aims to modernize transmission infrastructure, improve efficiency, and expand power access to industrial clusters.

Boosting Industrial Productivity and Energy Access

Adelabu explained that the new super grid will not only reduce transmission losses but also ensure more power reaches industrial zones, supporting the government’s goal of boosting local manufacturing and reducing operational costs for businesses.

The initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s comprehensive economic reforms, which include:

• Removing fuel subsidies to free up government revenue.

• Reforming tax laws to encourage investment.

• Enhancing oil production through improved security in the Niger Delta.

• Stabilizing the financial sustainability of the power sector.

Improved Revenue from Tariff Adjustments

According to the Power Minister, recent tariff adjustments for urban consumers have started yielding results, increasing the sector’s revenue by 70% in 2024, with projections suggesting an additional 41% rise to N2.4 trillion ($1.6 billion) in 2025. These adjustments are intended to create a more financially viable electricity market that can attract private investment and support infrastructure upgrades like the super grid.

Nigeria’s Persistent Grid Collapse Problem

Despite multiple reform efforts, grid collapses remain a recurring issue in Nigeria’s power sector. Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shows that the national grid experienced several partial and total collapses in 2024, highlighting the sector’s vulnerability to technical and infrastructural faults.

In March 2024, widespread outages were reported after the national grid went down, plunging several states into darkness. A similar collapse occurred again in September, reinforcing the urgency for significant transmission system upgrades.

What Lies Ahead

The proposed $2 billion super grid project could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s decades-long struggle with unreliable electricity supply. If successfully executed, it is expected to:

• Enhance power stability across the country.

• Boost industrial output through reliable energy access.

• Reduce dependence on self-generation and fossil fuels.

• Encourage foreign and local investment in the energy sector.

As Nigeria seeks to industrialize and diversify its economy, improved electricity infrastructure remains a critical foundation for sustainable growth. The partnership with China’s Exim Bank—if finalized—could provide the necessary financing and technology to make the long-awaited transformation of Nigeria’s power sector a reality.

The global artificial intelligence (AI) industry is projected to reach $4.8 trillion by 2033, according to the United Nations — a figure surpassing the combined GDP of all 54 African countries. With over $650 billion invested in AI in the past decade, the world’s fourth industrial revolution is accelerating rapidly.

Yet, as the digital divide widens, Africa risks being left behind. Technology entrepreneur Abasiama Idaresit, CEO of Wild Fusion Holdings, warns that without strategic investment in AI and data infrastructure, the continent could lose control of its digital sovereignty — and its future.

Africa’s Underinvestment in Data Infrastructure

Despite housing 17% of the world’s population, Africa accounts for just 1% of global digital infrastructure. This imbalance, Idaresit argues, leaves the continent vulnerable to digital colonization, biased algorithms, and economic dependency on external powers.

“Without consistent investment in data and AI systems, Africa will depend on others for the technology that shapes its destiny,” he explained. “That dependency will widen the poverty gap and drain economic value from the continent.”

AI, he noted, will soon power nearly every aspect of society — from healthcare and education to defence, agriculture, and creative industries. To secure its place in this future, Africa must invest now.

Turning Data into an Economic Asset

Idaresit urged African policymakers to treat data as the new oil — a resource that must be harnessed, not exported raw. Comparing data extraction to the export of unprocessed commodities, he warned that Africa could repeat the same historical mistakes if it doesn’t build capacity to refine and use its own data.

He emphasized that huge opportunities exist in the early stages of the AI value chain — particularly in data sourcing, labeling, cleaning, and preparation. These stages, often overlooked, are crucial for training accurate AI models and can generate billions in value.

“Data labeling alone is a $22.46 billion industry, growing at over 20% annually,” he said. “With Africa’s youthful population and competitive labor costs, we can capture a significant share of this market while ensuring diverse, representative datasets.”

African firms such as Lelapa and Sama already provide data annotation services for global AI companies — proof, he said, that the opportunity is real and scalable.

Building Digital Sovereignty and Inclusive AI

At the heart of Idaresit’s advocacy is digital sovereignty — the ability for nations to control their own data, protect intellectual property, and shape technologies that reflect their values.

“The core of AI is data accuracy,” he explained. “African companies that build precise and representative datasets are not just service providers; they are defenders of our technological independence.”

Speaking recently at a UN-backed AI for Developing Countries Conference in Vienna, Idaresit reiterated that Africa must define its digital destiny. “We missed the first three industrial revolutions. We cannot afford to miss the fourth,” he said.

A Call to Action for Policymakers and Investors

Across the continent, progress is emerging. The African Union has launched a continental AI strategy, and countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and South Africa are developing national AI frameworks.

Still, Idaresit insists that more must be done to attract both local and foreign investment. “Africa can — and must — become part of the global AI value chain,” he urged. “If we remain passive, we’ll face a future shaped by biased technologies that threaten our culture, economy, and identity.”

He concluded with a powerful reminder drawn from African wisdom:

“There is no beauty but the beauty of action.”

About Abasiama Idaresit

Abasiama Idaresit is the CEO of Wild Fusion Holdings, a technology and venture investment group with interests in digital banking, marketing, and training across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Recognized by the UN-backed MIPAD Top 100 and France’s Choiseul Institute’s Top 200 Under 40 Economic Leaders, he is a prominent advocate for digital inclusion and youth development.

Through his work with LEAP Africa, supported by Mastercard and the Gates Foundation, Idaresit continues to champion innovation, financial inclusion, and technology-driven progress across the continent.