My Teaching Life: “I Want My Students to Remember That I Never Left Them the Same Way I Met Them”

TK: What does the education system get fundamentally wrong about teachers?

BO: One thing the education system gets wrong is the way teachers are often treated as though they are second fiddle.

Teachers are professionals who play one of the most important roles in society because every other profession begins with a teacher. They deserve greater respect, better recognition, and treatment that reflects the enormous responsibility placed on them.

When teachers are valued, education becomes stronger.

TK: If you had five minutes with a policymaker, what would you say?

BO: I would focus on two important things.

First, I would advocate for the continuous review and proper implementation of the curriculum so that it reflects present-day realities and equips learners with the skills they need for today’s world.

Secondly, I would recommend compulsory training and certification for unqualified teachers who are genuinely willing to pursue a teaching career. Passion is important, but professional development is equally essential if we want quality education.

TK: Has this job affected your life outside the classroom?

BO: Yes, it has affected my life in very positive ways. One of the greatest rewards has been the relationships I continue to enjoy with former learners and their parents. I have lost count of the number of learners and parents who have returned years later, some after more than a decade to express gratitude for the role I played in their lives.

Those moments remind me that the true impact of teaching often becomes visible long after learners have left the classroom.

TK: What’s the student story you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life?

BO: One student whose story I will never forget is Okpara Delight.

The impact made during that period and the transformation I witnessed remain one of the defining memories of my teaching journey. Encounters like that remind me that every learner has the potential to grow when given the right guidance, encouragement, and support.

TK: What do you want your students to remember about you, 20 years from now?

BO: I want them to remember that Mr Bakare never left them the same way he met them.

Whether academically, morally, or personally, I hope every learner who passed through my classroom can say they became a better version of themselves because our paths crossed. That, to me, is the true measure of a teacher’s success.

TK: In one sentence, how would you describe your teaching life?

BO: My teaching life has been an amazingly fascinating journey filled with countless memories, valuable lessons, and the privilege of transforming lives one learner at a time.