By Osondu Ahirika
I’m heartbroken that my Mum, Mrs Rose Ahirika, isn’t alive to witness this.
For 35 years, she taught.
Her last duty post was Holy Trinity College, Mbiakong, Uruan LGA.
Like her, my father, also of blessed memory, was a Lecturer and retired at the University of Uyo.
We lived as tenants until my father got his gratuity.
Then he built a four-bedroom bungalow here in Uyo.
By this time, I had already returned from National Youth Service and started my family.
I’m not ashamed to say, my parents were conditioned to believe that time-honoured notion.
“A teacher’s reward is in heaven.”
They were so dedicated to their profession, and immeasurable joy just teaching.
Their yearly diary was full of teaching engagements and time scheduling.
Despite their commitment and hard work, at home, we struggled to feed.
They could only afford a black-and-white television later on in life.
But my parents were extremely contented.
My father impressed upon my Mum, and then all of us his children, the creed of selfless service and Godly contentment.
As young as 11 years old, he taught me to memorize the prayer creed of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
“Teach me, O Lord, to serve Thee as Thou deservest;
To give and not to count the cost.
To fight and not to heed the wounds.
To toil and not to seek for rest.
To labour and not to ask for reward.
Save that of knowing that I do Thy will.”
This Jesuit prayer, my father, late Ven. Dr Edwin Ahirika maintained, should be the ethical orientation of everyone who is a teacher.
He insisted it is the noblest profession.
I still believe so, including teaching from the pulpit.
When my father bought a Peugeot 504 GR in 1984, life got a bit better for us, the children whose parents were both teachers.
My father alternated as a taxi driver, plying Uyo – Abak after lectures to make ends meet.
Even as an Anglican priest and Senior Lecturer at the University, he was unashamed of the side hustling.
White my mother complemented his effort with farming.
Every student and staff of Holy Trinity, Mbiakong will remember my Mum for cultivating large portions of the school’s vast arable farmland.
Their only reward was the gratuity.
And the man/woman died.
I wish they were alive to see that the Jesuits’ prayer alone isn’t the endpoint.
Governor Umo Eno has changed the story for teachers in Akwa Ibom State.
Yesterday, October 5, was the 2026 World Teachers’ Day Celebration.
For them, it was joy, joy, joy!
Governor Umo Eno approved N50,000 for each of over 20,000 public school teachers in the State
He also doled out ₦500,000 donations to each of the 1,776 registered private Schools in Akwa Ibom State.
He furthermore ordered the completion of Teachers’ House in Uyo within six months.
Newly recruited teachers in the State, numbering a thousand, were there to add their positive vibes.
Another 2000 are on cue to join the teaching profession in the State as approved for recruitment by Governor Eno.
Of course, we wouldn’t forget retired teachers whose backlog of pension and gratuity Governor Umo Eno has contributed to defray.
This isn’t the first time he has released Wardrobe allowance for the teachers, if I check the Teachers’ Diary.
On June 27, 2024, the State Government disbursed wardrobe allowance to all public Primary and Secondary School teachers.
About N1.1 billion was released for 20,345 teachers.
This latest gesture is a repeat performance.
So a pattern has been intentionally established by Governor Umo Eno.
Teachers can begin getting deserved reward here on earth.
Before the ultimate one in the hereafter – heaven.
Let me quote Governor Umo Eno:
“Teachers’ rewards are here. Our belief and conviction is that your reward begins here on earth, and we have taken appropriate steps to ensure that.”
Teachers will record this latest kind gesture in their diary.
In the words of my friend Akaninyene David, “What a time to be alive”
Seeing teachers finally get rewarded and acknowledged on earth.
May the teachers enjoy this new season and philosophy.
I am consoled that my father and mother may have finally gotten their reward as teachers in heaven.
