As a new school term begins, lesson plans are being dusted off and classrooms are coming back to life. But beyond the chalk and textbooks, there’s a deeper assignment waiting for teachers across Nigeria:
Before learning can happen, connection must come first.
And that connection? It starts with dignity, for both students and teachers.
We at Sogebra Empowerment Foundation recently spent time at Imota in Lagos, where we met over 260 children hungry not just for education but for attention, for warmth, for a sense that they matter.
Many wore tattered uniforms, but wide eyes.
And that’s when it hit us again:
- You can’t teach a child who feels invisible.
- You can’t build knowledge on a broken sense of worth.
Teachers Are Carrying a Lot Too
Let’s be honest, our teachers are struggling.
From poor remuneration and overcrowded classes to little or no access to teaching aids, many educators are burning out silently.
Still, in the midst of it all, teachers remain the first responders to a child’s future.
So what can we do?
No, we may not be able to fix all of Nigeria’s systemic problems in one term.
But we can do small things with great love, and that’s where transformation starts.
The Small Things That Make a Big Difference
As we step into this term, let’s consider these intentional, low-cost but high-impact practices that can help restore dignity and build true connection:
A Needle and Thread of Care
- Is a child’s shirt torn? Teach them how to stitch it.
- Is a girl’s hair unkempt? Talk about basic grooming with kindness, not shame.
- Make time for a “clean-up day” or a “self-care talk” monthly.
Hard Skills, Soft Hearts
- Integrate practical life skills: simple sewing, speaking clearly, even cleaning up after meals.
- Turn challenges into learning: lack of water? Teach hygiene with creativity.
- Let the class learn teamwork through shared responsibilities.
Talk With Them, Not Just At Them
- Greet students by name.
- Ask, “What’s one thing you need help with today?”
- Applaud effort, not just academic results.
Dignity Is the Foundation
Many of our students carry trauma, poverty, and pain into the classroom. Their hunger isn’t always for food, sometimes, it’s for someone to notice them.
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- Don’t punish a child’s poverty.
- Don’t shame them into silence.
- Instead, show them they matter, even if it’s just with eye contact and empathy.
Society Must Do Its Part Too
We must stop expecting miracles from under-supported teachers. It’s time for communities, private sectors, and government to step up.
When we partnered with BIC Nigeria recently, we saw how even pens and notebooks restored pride. Uniforms stitched. Smiles returned. And learning, finally, began.
Imagine if this were multiplied across every LGA.
As the New Term Begins…
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- Let us build classrooms that nurture not just minds, but humanity.
- Let us raise confident children, not just compliant ones.
- Let every teacher be reminded: what you do matters.
Even if all you can do today is smile, patch a shirt, share a kind word, or teach a child how to care for themselves, you’ve done more than enough.
Because before we raise scholars, we must raise people who believe in themselves.
And that begins with dignity.
We can’t wait for perfect systems before doing what’s right.
Let’s start with what we have, and who we are.
