There is no doubt about the fact that teachers are the fabric upon which children’s self esteem, upward growth and mobility is woven.
For women and girls, the presence of women teachers who encourage them to soar beyond patriarchal norms is even more imperative in a society determined to stifle their fighting spirit.
But it is not often that female teachers and lecturers receive the much needed praise for doing a job that extends into multiple generations.
Urban Woman Magazine recently spoke to some women and asked them what words of encouragement they would give to their favourite female teachers and lecturers.
Read their responses below.
Joy
Ohh this would be Mrs Azo. I’ll tell her thank you for holding my hand through physics class and for doing her best to gently explain to me and make sure I understood during her classes. I’ll say thank you for never using the cane on your students despite the number of times we frustrated you.
I’ll tell her that the little set back I had with my physics paper in waec didn’t set me back. I’ll tell her that I have since gone on to finish university and get a job and that I’m now a grown up young woman trying to figure out her life while excelling. I’ll say, Mrs Azo, thank you for being the most gentle teacher I ever came across and for being so kind and simple. I hope she’s doing well wherever she is.
Lizzie
Mrs Lambert, my literature teacher brought life to our literature classes. When we read ‘Joys of Motherhood’ her narration glued us to our seats and we felt so much pity for Nnu Ego. If it was possible she would have brought her out from the book and given her some hard knocks.
She was good.
Mrs Allison, my History teacher. Her storytelling prowess was soooo on point.
Those two teachers made me love reading a whole lot.
I even tried to search for them online to appreciate them. Those teachers were very instrumental to my academic excellence.
Anu
I had two😍 my history teacher and my literature teacher 🥹 Those women made me dream and showed me it was possible for us to be highly educated and take up space.
I’d say to Mrs Adekunle my English and Literature teacher, thank you for showing me that words are powerful, for praising my writing skills and inspiring my lifelong passion for literature and writing 🫶🏿.
To Mrs. Olufemi, my history teacher, thank you for being the most amazing history teacher ever, I could listen to your history analysis for years 😍 she brought life to every history class and made us want to know more.
Ada
I’d tell her thank you for singing my praises. My businesses studies teacher in JS2/3. I got perfect scores in all her assessments because she’s such a great teacher.
Wendy
I’d tell Mrs Inko-Tariah in ISS thank you for igniting my love for Biology.
I’d tell Dr Etta for being a superb lecturer and project supervisor and making me consider pursuing molecular genetics at a higher level.
Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a writer, journalist and editor. She moonlights occasionally as a podcaster on As Angel Was Sayin’. Catch her on all socials @asangelwassayin.