It is a popular saying in Nigeria that the reward of teachers is in heavens. In many ways it is true.

One way to look at the saying is to say only God can reward the teachers, looking at the magnitude of their achievements. For instance, many top executives who make six to seven figure monthly salary in Nigeria rarely return to their elementary schools where that primary two teacher is still teaching primary two after twenty years. Apart from being gifted in doing it, she has cultivated the love of doing it and she carefully molds hundreds of minds every year for an excellent future. Who can reward that? Of course non other than heaven itself.

There are many other ways to look at it and it will still make perfect sense. However the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) decided to get some rewards for teachers here on earth before heaven pays.

In 1994, the organisation proclaimed October 5 to be World Teachers Day. The day was chosen to commemorate the great step made for teachers October 5, 1966, when a special intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris adopted the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, in cooperation with the ILO.

This recommendation sets forth the rights and responsibilities of teachers as well as international standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, teaching and learning conditions. Since its adoption, the Recommendation has been considered an important set of guidelines to promote teachers’ status in the interest of quality education.

This year World Teachers’ Day marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. It is also the first world Teachers’ Day (WTD) to be celebrated within the new Global Education 2030 Agenda adopted by the world community one year ago.

This year’s theme, “Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status”, embodies the fundamental principles of the fifty-year-old Recommendation while shining a light on the need to support teachers as reflected in the agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A specific education goal, SDG4, pledges to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

So you are being urged to join the UNESCO and everyone who appreciates teachers to celebrate the 2016 World Teachers Day.

Here are some posts from the social media celebrating the day. Add your voice.

Thank you, teachers! #WorldTeachersDay ?? pic.twitter.com/mpYMYEkQjs

— bee (@beatrizerimas) October 5, 2016

A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others. Happy #WorldTeachersDay pic.twitter.com/lDGAudsQ5I

— Njandin’ Mgodoyi (@nkululeko_tau) October 5, 2016

#WorldTeachersDay Every child has the potential to shine with the right guidance & enrichment ❤️ Happy Teachers Day pic.twitter.com/cjP23wATz5

— Tina (@Tinapeg2) October 5, 2016

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E idiot’s ?#234TV #WorldTeachersDay pic.twitter.com/e054QQbr4P

— 234TV (@234TV) October 5, 2016

Teachers’ you rock! We salute you!#worldteachersday
? ? ? pic.twitter.com/y0yQyvqGTa

— Pobble (@HeyPobble) October 5, 2016

#WorldTeachersDay A job that Must be challenging yet so rewarding! But not enough credit for! So here’s to you.. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/b6preEo0i9

— Tina (@Tinapeg2) October 5, 2016