A non-governmental organisation, Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative, LAIE, has commended all stakeholders in the education sector, especially, teachers for their active roles and impact in building the society.
The Founder of the initiative, Dr. Ama Onyerinma gave the commendation at the 11th Annual Merit Award Ceremony put together by Lagos Education District IV, as she highlighted the contributions of teachers in individual life and the community at large .
According to her, whatever height an individual attain in life can only be made possible with the effort of a teacher.
In her speech, ‘Teachers :The Active Presence’, Ama stated thus, “It is true our parents are our first teachers but our school teachers, more formal in nature, hold a dear place in our hearts and how we approach learning. We are all here because a teacher or teachers made a difference in our lives.
“Teachers recognise their job is beyond sharing information, and rather through their actions and presence, they model for their students appropriate codes of conduct and interactions within and outside of the school environment and develop skills as well as thought processes necessary for adulthood which cannot be dispensed from a textbookâ€.
Explaining the active presence feature in teachers, the London bred founder, who was also received a special philanthropy award at the event, noted that the ‘presence’needed in tutors was beyond the physical.
 “As they must engage with the mind and heart. Their senses are heightened throughout the school day and beyond as they review lesson plans, homework and consider how to bring learning alive in the digital age when all students believe the internet is the depository of all knowledge.
“You see, you can find information online but It is the teacher who gives it a soul. The teacher carefully finds a way to ensure not only that you interact with the knowledge but that you will remember beyond that moment otherwise you are back online reading again. That is the gift of the teacher’s presenceâ€
In line with the objective of LAIE,part of which is to raise support for the education of the marginalised and less privileged children, Ama pledged that the initiative would do all within its reach to ensure that quality education was made available to children in the state and the South West at large.
In her speech,Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos Education District IV, Mrs Lola Are-Adegbite, congratulated a.ll the awardees as she stated that selection procedures were strictly on merit .
She implored all to sustain the habit and works for which they were recognised, adding that the state and indeed the country could only develop on the platform of excellence.
