The Kwara State Governor, Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed on Saturday received the Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT) merit award for outstanding performance in Education from Vice President Namadi Sambo with a commitment to accelerate the sector's growth. "We are not only committed to sustaining the "Every Child counts" policy of the immediate past administration but to taking it to the envisioned level", Alh. Ahmed promised.

The Governor also added that added his administration would continue to collaborate with all stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that child education and development was achieved within the set-time.

Responding on behalf of other awardees, Alh Ahmed said the award would further motivate his administration to chart a new and better cause for educational development of the state. He commended the NUT for recognizing his administration's outstanding achievements in education sector and for its firm commitment to teachers' interest. "It is no longer tenable that teachers' reward is in heaven. We must do everything we can to enhance the welfare of teachers and also create a conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning", said Ahmed who stressed that the level must be strengthened in order to enhance educational development.

Other recipients of the awards that took place at NICON LUXURY Hotel, Abuja as part of activities for the' 2013 World Teachers' Day celebration and President's Teachers And Schools Excellence Award' were the Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam and his Enugu counterpart Sullivian Chime.

The well attended award presentation ceremony was attended by the Vice President Namadi Sambo who represented the president, Minister of State for Education Nelson Wike; Minister of Youth and Sport Alhaji Bolaji Abdullah and scores of personalities in the educational sector across the state.

Earlier in his address, the National President of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya said the World Teachers Day started from the Congress of Ministers of Education of nations affiliated to UNESCO in 1966 formed principally to consider UNESCO/ILO document on recommendations concerning the status of teachers.

Olukoya said the NUT demanded that primary education should be moved away from the ambit of local government, pointing out that its financial responsibility to primary education should be built into the consolidated Account of the federation for the benefits of first line charge to primary education.