KAGOTE Deploys 1,000 Teachers to Ogoni Primary Schools, Wins Collaborations of LGAs
The Educational Intervention Programme of the Khana, Gokana, Tai, Eleme Consultative Forum, KAGOTE, whiich sought an alternative measure to boost the teachers capacity in public primary schools across Ogoni reached a superlative climax over the weekend as about a thousand volunteer teachers were onboarded and deployed.
KAGOTE, the Ogoni apex sociocultural organization, organized a formal reception for the successful volunteer teachers on Friday,, September 4, 2026, at the Giniwa Hall, Tai Local Government Council Secretariat, Sakpenwa, Rivers State, an occasion which brought together KAGOTE leadership, local government chairmen, political leaders, and education stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, KAGOTE President, Lesi Maol, disclosed that education was at the forefront of the organization’s immediate priorities after he assumed leadership of the organization and constituted an Education Intervention Committee to examine the challenges confronting schools across Ogoni land.
Maol reiterated that the initiative, a community-driven response to the shortage of teaching personnel in primary schools across Ogoni land, was considered after the committee had concluded its mandate to investigate the number of teachers available and determine whether the existing manpower was sufficient to cater for the educational needs of pupils.
He described the outcome of the assessment as alarming, particularly at the primary school level, where schools in some communities were found to be operating one or two teachers only working with the head teachers, a situation sufficiently concerning for KAGOTE to declare education an emergency requiring immediate intervention.
Maol noted that the programme, which saw only 1,000 volunteers screened successful out of more than 5,000 people who applied, was conceived not merely as an employment arrangement but as an act of community service intended to address an immediate gap while broader government interventions are pursued.
He consequently urged the volunteers to understand the responsibility attached to the assignment and approach teaching as a service to the Ogoni child, stressing that laying a strong educational foundation was essential to the long-term development of Ogoni communities.
“So my advice to all of you would be congratulations first. We have decided that you teach in your hometown,” he said.
He appealed to them to take their responsibility seriously and cautioned that refusing to teach despite receiving stipends would ultimately amount to cheating themselves and the communities they are expected to serve.
“…that child you refuse to teach will be the ‘Deebam’ and the ‘Deewell’ that will kill you tomorrow.
“But if we groom them together, we will have a better society. Therefore, we all need to have the understanding that the sanity we want to provide is for ourselves, for humanity, for Ogoni, for everyone and generations to come,” he added.
Other personalities who addressed the teachers and pledged their support for the scheme include the chairman of NUPRC, Magnus Abe, Tai LGA chairman, Mbakponee Okpe, Khana LGA chairman, Thomas Bariere, and Eleme LGA chairman, Obarilomate Ollor.
