By Thanni-Balogun Esther
The University of Ibadan (UI) has inducted 218 graduates of its Faculty of Education into the teaching profession, formally admitting them into the ranks of registered professional teachers.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the Faculty of Education Large Lecture Theatre, was organised in conjunction with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). It brought together university officials, TRCN representatives, inductees, parents and other guests.
The inductees comprised graduates of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education (PGDECE), Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. According to the Chairman of the Faculty Induction Committee, Dr S. I. Meroyi, they had completed the TRCN Professional Qualifying Examination held on November 6, 2025.
In his welcome address, Meroyi congratulated the graduates and their families, highlighting the importance of teachers and the professional standards expected of those entering the field.
The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor K. O. Kester, described the induction as a defining step in the graduates’ transition from academic training to professional practice. He explained that while their qualifications demonstrated academic achievement, professional induction and licensing established their legal recognition and identity as teachers in Nigeria.
“The world of teaching has changed. AI is now a teaching assistant, and the blackboard is now a smartboard,” Prof. Kester said, urging the inductees to adapt to changes in the education sector.
He also charged them to approach teaching as a nation-building responsibility rather than merely a search for employment, drawing their attention to the TRCN motto, “Committed to Excellence in Teacher Education.”
Delivering the Vice-Chancellor’s address, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor J. T. Arotiba, urged the new teachers to uphold the trust placed in them through competence, integrity and continuous learning.
“Today, you receive more than a certificate but trust. This trust is fragile; a single moment of compromise can destroy this trust, but with competence and care, it will grow stronger,” he said.
Arotiba further urged the inductees to take their professional oath seriously, continue to develop their knowledge and protect the reputation of the university wherever their careers take them. He also encouraged the Faculty of Education to sustain its achievements.
A representative of the TRCN Registrar, who was absent, underscored the place of teachers in national development, identifying competence, good character, a child-centred approach and commitment to the profession as essential qualities for the new teachers.
He warned that professional misconduct could result in the withdrawal of a teaching licence, reminding the inductees that every child could learn when taught with an appropriate approach.
“Education is a weapon that can be used to change the world, and that weapon is in your hands now,” he said.
The administration of the TRCN professional oath formed the highlight of the ceremony. During the exercise, the inductees raised their right hands to take the oath and were instructed to keep the tassels on their graduation caps on the right until the process was completed. They subsequently moved the tassels to the left, marking their formal induction into the profession.
The ceremony ended with closing remarks by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and a vote of appreciation by the Faculty Officer, Mr M. O. Ogunbanjo. The TRCN, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan and national anthems were sung to conclude the event.
