BY USMAN MAMA

It’s International Teachers Day. “The African Magazine” is happy to extend our congratulations to all those men and women all over the world who have shaped the lives of everyone of us more than we are aware. We may not remember that sweet elementary school teacher who had the patience to teach us the basic first steps in an education, how to write a, b, c, or how to count from 1 to 10. Or that secondary school teacher who instilled in us an interest in reading about history, current affairs, politics or whatever our areas of interest are today. But the impact is palpable, and we should all show our gratitude on this special day to our beloved teachers, our parents away from home.

On this occasion, a dedicated Nigerian educator and author, Amara Chidinma Ezeniridu, shares some though-provoking ideas that call upon us all.

I fell in love with this profession the moment I stumbled into it. Yes, I stumbled into it.

The only ‘snag’ in it for me is that it may never get me into Forbes list of the world’s richest. If only Forbes can have an alternative list of world’s life changers, there will be no doubt about making it. Can someone please pass this info to the hands and minds behind Forbes?

I call them gods; you call them teachers.

Are they not gods?

Who has the amount of patience they have?

Who works out of love the most?

Who has so much faith in a child and continues with positive affirmation in the face of greatest odds?

Who hopes against all hopes that a child can?

Who forgets themselves to make a child stand tall?

Teachers are gods!

Some years ago, my Saturdays were totally given up for the sake of three of my students who needed to catch up with their peers. Every Saturday, 8:00am till 4:00pm, I took turns with each. It was just a matter of time, each of them exceeded their expectations.

Don’t even ask of how much I was paid; how much would have compensated for all the resources that went into the work? Think about the resources, think outside the box, will you?

When you give offering to God, your sparse offering, do you compare it to all that you believe God does for you?

Teachers are gods!

Look at their remuneration.

See how parents fight them.

And yes, you fight them too.

Everyone looks at them with disdain.

They think they are doing them a favour.

Yet, teachers persevere.

They are calm in the face of all the insults.

They don’t renege in their commitment to their student, your child.

Teachers are gods!

One day, someone asked me “how can you say you are a teacher and live in this kind of place?”

I was astonished and asked further “what exactly do you mean ma’am?”

“Here is expensive, how do you pay the rent with your teacher’s salary?”

“Really? How do you pay the rent with your lawyer’s salary?” I responded.

What nerves!

The things we do for God, we do for teachers.

Teachers are gods!

Imagine the diversity in the school, in the class.

Imagine the voices coming all at once.

Imagine all the fingers pointing up at the same time and

The minds waiting on one person to be fed.

Just imagine.

Teachers are gods!

Many years after, all thanks will go to the pediatrician and optometrist

There will be trembling at the mention of a judge and a lawyer

The musician and politicians take all the money

Parties will be thrown for the generals and pastors

Monuments are laid for the writers

Laurels are given to the poets and scientists

What comes to the teacher?

Teachers are gods!

How about we praise them today, just today.

Praise like you will a god for they are.

Teachers are gods amongst us.

Happy Teachers’ Day to all of us who took this path intentionally or otherwise. Your labour of love will NOT be in vain.

Also by the author: Education and the Nigerian woman. Click here to read.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With a background in marketing and management, Amara worked in various IT companies before settling for the sales of educational books. She proceeded for a post graduate degree in education and spent many years in the classroom working with early years and primary school children. A certified personnel manager and neuro linguistics programming coach, a writer and a management consultant, when Amara isn’t in the boardroom, she’s in the classroom or in her writing room.