Madam Helen Chinwendu Okafor, who has worked as a teacher for 35 years in a variety of schools in Lagos State, says she finds immense delight from the teaching profession.

Ms Helen told the Vanguard at her retirement party, which was organised by family and friends that she never get tired of being a teacher.

She began her teaching career at Oluwa Primary School before moving to Wowo Primary School in Olodi-Apapa (1995–1996) and Local Authority Primary School in Ajegunle (1996–2009). She worked her way up to the position of deputy director/school management at Z.I Primary School in Olodi Apapa within the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Speaking of her years as a teacher, Okafor explained: “Today is my retirement celebration after 35 years of service as a teacher in various capacities. I later became a deputy director/school manager at Reservation Primary School, Tolu Complex from 2019 until my retirement this year. So, you see, teaching is not just a passion, it gave me a lot of glory. It helped me in life, marriage, caring for the children, and a lot of good things I cannot recount.”

The ex-deputy director called on government to improve the welfare of teachers, she also, advised teachers to give all in the discharge of their duties.

“The government needs to improve the lives of teachers by increasing their salaries. This will make them happy. And on the part of teachers, especially those on the field, my advice to them is to continue teaching the children using the four Cs – Communication, collaboration, Creativity and Critical thinking. When you use relevant materials to teach them, the children hardly forget. These give them the insight to move higher and make them adjust to life.”

On what is next after retirement, Madam Helen Chinwendu Okafor said she would continue teaching till death.