By joshua ‘Your Impact Matters’ – Senator Ndoma-Egba Salutes Start-Rite Teachers
Chairman of the Advisory Board of Start-Rite Schools, Abuja, Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has celebrated teachers of the school for their dedication and far-reaching influence on students, declaring that their work, example and impact matter.
In his World Teachers’ Day 2026 address to the teaching team, Senator Ndoma-Egba, an ex-Senate Leader who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), said teaching remains one of the most consequential professions because teachers do far more than deliver lessons.
He urged the teachers to shift focus from mere activity to tangible impact in line with the Start-Rite theme for the 2026/2027 academic session: “From Activity to Impact: Every Student Thriving, Every Family Engaged and Every Staff Growing.”
He encouraged the teachers to approach the new academic year with renewed commitment to professionalism, responsibility, integrity, diligence and excellence, and to continually ask: “What difference am I making in the life of this child?”
According to him, teachers must know their students well, respond to individual needs, maintain high expectations, use evidence to improve teaching, and model the values they seek to instil.
Ndoma-Egba further assured staff of the school leadership’s commitment to their growth and wellbeing, noting that teachers cannot consistently give their best without support, opportunities for professional development and a respectful work environment.
He called for a collective raising of standards in teaching methods, relationships with students and families, teamwork and professional conduct.
“Your work matters. Your example matters. Your impact matters,” he told the teachers.
His full address to Start-Rite teachers reads:
“Dear Teachers of Start-Rite Schools,
“On this World Teachers’ Day, I extend my sincere appreciation to every teacher and member of the teaching team at Start-Rite Schools. Teaching remains one of the most consequential professions because, through your daily work, you do far more than deliver lessons. You shape minds, build character, nurture confidence, develop resilience, and help young people discover a sense of purpose. Every student who passes through Start-Rite carries something of your influence into the future. For this, I thank you.
“As Start-Rite continues to grow and evolve, the responsibility placed upon us also grows. Our aspiration is not simply to be a bigger school, but to be The School—a school that sets a standard for quality education, character formation, responsible citizenship and purposeful leadership. This requires us to move beyond activity to impact. It is not enough that lessons are taught; students must learn. It is not enough that programmes are organised; they must add value. It is not enough that we are busy; our work must produce meaningful outcomes in the lives of our students.
“I therefore encourage every teacher to approach this new academic year with a renewed commitment to professionalism, responsibility, integrity, diligence and excellence. Let us continually ask ourselves: What difference am I making in the life of this child? Let us know our students well, respond to their individual needs, maintain high expectations, use evidence to improve our teaching, and model the values we seek to instil in them. Our students should see in us the very qualities we ask them to develop.
“Our theme for the 2026/2027 academic session, ‘From Activity to Impact: Every Student Thriving, Every Family Engaged and Every Staff Growing’, captures an important expectation of all of us. Every student should have the opportunity to thrive; every family should experience meaningful partnership with the school; and every member of staff should continue to grow professionally and personally. These three priorities are interconnected, and teachers are central to all of them.
“As a school, we recognise that you cannot give your best consistently without support, opportunities for growth and a work environment in which you feel respected and valued. The leadership of Start-Rite Schools remains committed to strengthening professional development, supporting staff wellbeing, and creating the conditions in which our teachers can do their best work.
“As we celebrate you today, I ask that you also recommit yourselves to the privilege and responsibility of being a Start-Rite teacher. Let us continue to raise the standard—not only in what we teach, but in how we teach, how we relate to our students and families, how we work with one another, and how we conduct ourselves as professionals.
“Your work matters. Your example matters. Your impact matters.
“Thank you for the commitment, patience and dedication you bring to Start-Rite Schools every day. Together, let us continue to build The School—a school where every child is known, every learner is challenged to grow, every character is intentionally shaped, and every young person is prepared to lead a purposeful and impactful life.
“Happy World Teachers’ Day 2026!
“With sincere appreciation,
Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, OFR, CON, LL.D., SAN
Chairman, Start-Rite Schools Advisory Board.”