Professor Taoheed Adedoja, the pioneer Director-General of the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) Biase, Cross River State, has extended warm felicitations to the government and teaching community in Cross River State on the occasion of World Teachers Day 2024.
Professor Adedoja expressed heartfelt commendation to the teachers on Saturday, during a media interaction with newsmen at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, as part of the Teachers Day celebrations.
Describing teachers as Nigeria’s unsung heroes and ‘pillars of development’, Professor Adedoja, a veteran educationist, emphasized the crucial role of the TCTI to Cross River State. As the sole institution mandated by law to retrain teachers, TCTI is committed to actualize its unique mission through collaborative training programs with key stakeholders which includes SUBEB, NUT and the State Secondary Education Board.
According to the Director-General, universities and colleges of education provide basic and foundational training to graduates, including those in education. However, the Teachers Continuous Training Institute has a distinct mandate to reskill and upskill teachers, enabling them to meet the evolving global standards for classroom teaching and learning.
Adedoja, a former Commissioner for Education in Oyo State, SUBEB Chairman, Former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, said the TCTI is a treasure to Cross River, citing its global recognition for fulfilling its mandate and becoming the first CERTIPORT-approved institution since 2022 for digital literacy proficiency testing. This milestone aims to bridge the knowledge gap, enhancing global employability and competitiveness.
Professor Adedoja in a keynote address to congregants, extolled teachers for their pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future. He highlighted the TCTI as Africa’s leading hub for teacher development, specifically designed to enhance the classroom skills of primary and secondary school teachers since its establishment in September 2020. The TCTI boasts impressive facilities, including a 200-seat auditorium equipped with cutting-edge digital literacy tools.
Professor Adedoja lauded the present administration in the state for prioritizing teacher advancement through the TCTI; a Cross River State government-owned and financed institution conceived to inculcate global learning and boost manpower development.
