Against the many odds, we are excited to kick-start this year’s edition of the Lagos State Teachers’ Merit Awards which is, in fact, a special edition. One, because the coronavirus pandemic forced our schools to shut down for months and challenged our teachers to seek innovative ways to impart their pupil and minimize learning loss. Two, considering that this year’s selection committee comprises all relevant hands across sectors and expert educationists that are poised to see that the process is highly merit-based and transparent. We vest our total confidence and trust in their evaluation.

Across times and ages, teachers have always been integral players in human social development, civilization and prosperity. They are the frontline workers protecting the world from the existential virus of ignorance. They are the sharpeners who turn sticks into pencils, and the rain that beats tender plants into huge trees of fruits. It is these unsung heroes, who have taken the success of our young ones as their duty, that the Lagos State Government hopes to laud, celebrate and reward for their excellent service, sacrifices, and commitment to a better future for Lagos.