A Lagos-based teacher, Dr Adebola Shogbuyi, has ignited discussions on the recognition of educators in Lagos State, lamenting what she described as the persistent neglect of teachers who nurture students that emerge as One-Day governors in the state.

Shogbuyi, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, questioned why teachers who play “critical roles” in preparing students for the prestigious competition are neither acknowledged nor celebrated alongside the winners. She tagged the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the post.

“They stand radiant in well-tailored apparel, stepping confidently into highly deserved positions as One-Day Governors. The celebrations, the gifts, the applause—every bit of it is beautiful.

“But I ask a simple question: Why are the students celebrated, while those who shape them remain invisible? Why does nobody ever speak about us?”

The teacher, who taught at Immaculate Heart Comprehensive Senior School, Maryland, Lagos, recounted how she coached several students who emerged as winners in the competition over the years without any formal recognition.

According to her, she produced the One-Day Deputy Governor in 2016.

“In 2016, I coached and produced the One-Day Deputy Governor. There was no celebration I was invited to. When he later travelled to Finland, it happened quietly,” she said.

The teacher added that between 2021 and 2025, she worked with colleagues to produce top winners, including a historic sweep of first, second, and third positions in 2025, yet the teachers were not acknowledged.

“Fast forward… In 2021, alongside Abike Okin, Mr. Sekinat Adeleke-Akinborode, and Mr. John Wesley, I worked tirelessly to produce Her Excellency, Jemima Marcus.

“In 2022, we produced Abdurahman AbdulAzeez as One-Day Governor. And in 2025, we achieved what no district had ever done before, producing the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions in the same competition.

“A historic feat. Yet, we were absent from the celebrations,” she lamented.

Describing her message as not a “cry for sympathy,” Shogbuyi said she spoke out of concern for a systemic culture that sidelines teachers despite their role in shaping academic excellence.

“For every celebrated winner, there is an unseen teacher, and until that changes, the story remains incomplete,” she added.

While expressing gratitude to the Lagos State Government for the opportunities she had enjoyed in her career, Shogbuyi said her intervention was driven by a desire to change what she described as a culture of neglect of teachers.

“This is not a cry for sympathy… but a call for meaningful recognition where it is long overdue,” she added.

The post has since generated reactions from social media users, many of whom agreed that teachers deserve greater recognition.

A user, Tola Oluwaye, commented, “This message couldn’t have come at a better time than now. It’s loud and clear. You have highlighted a very crucial issue that’s often overlooked. The message, with the tone used, should spark the needed conversation about recognizing the unsung heroes—the teachers. I know that someday soon, you’ll be gloriously rewarded.”

Another commenter, Abdul Rasaq Oshidipe, suggested that the programme might have been designed to reward students’ performance rather than teachers, but still called for appreciation of educators.

“It may be because the program is designed to recognise the students’ performance but not the teachers. I think there is another category for best teachers across the states and the country. May Allah reward the efforts of teachers. I do not envy your patience in passing knowledge,” he said.

Similarly, Haleemah Ahmad said, “This is really worth raising awareness about. It’s not about you alone; it’s about recognising the efforts of teachers as a whole. For a competition of this magnitude, the teachers involved and the school should be duly celebrated.

“When a school achieves the feat, you have repeatedly, as you’ve done in some other competitions, it comes with even more benefits. I remember seeing a Cowbell billboard celebrating Ambassador College and Iganmode Grammar,” she said.

Other respondents, including Olubunmi Rojas and Khadijah Diko, called for improved welfare and incentives for teachers, stressing that their contributions to nation-building remain undervalued.

The One-Day Governor initiative in Lagos State is an annual programme organised by the Office of the First Lady in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, under the New Era Foundation established by Senator Oluremi Tinubu in 2001.

The initiative, which has run for over two decades, is designed to promote academic excellence, leadership skills, and civic responsibility among secondary school students.

Winners of the competition are allowed to assume leadership roles for a day, including serving as governor, deputy governor, and speaker, while also participating in official engagements, tours, and mentorship programmes.

Over the years, the programme has been widely celebrated for inspiring young leaders and rewarding academic brilliance.