Edo Teacher ‘Can’t Read Own Certificate’

It was a drama of sorts during the verification exercise of primary school teachers’ certificates in Edo State on Tuesday as one of the teachers in the state, Mrs. Augusta Odemwingie, could not read a sworn affidavit she tendered as part of her credentials. Mrs. Odemwingie teaches at Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha local government area of Benin City, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who paid an unscheduled visit to the State Staff Training Centre venue of the exercise was appalled that a teacher could not read, saying “if you can’t read, what do you teach the pupils? What do you write on the board?” The Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Patrick Ikosimi, who was also at the screening to monitor the exercise, said the woman’s failure was “an embarrassment.” On arrival at the centre, the governor took time to peruse some of the teachers’ credentials and documents presented. When Mrs. Odenwingie took her turn during the exercise, the governor who listened to her defence asked her to read the affidavit she presented. She stuttered and read the affidavit as if a kindergarten was learning to read, to the consternation of everybody around.