Uncle Sunday: Appreciating the impact and sacrifices of teachers

Years ago, on a sunny afternoon, I was walking home when I saw someone approaching. At first, I was not sure, but then I recognised him—Uncle Sunday Ilori, my primary five teacher at Sunny Day Model School. 

Being in his class remains one of my best educational experiences, and I’m sure he could tell how excited I was to see him after many years! After exchanging pleasantries and the usual “What are you doing now?” conversations, we parted ways. But after taking just a few steps, I was overwhelmed by memories of his class and the deep impact it had on me. Without thinking, I turned back to catch up with him and say, “Thank you,” once again. I told him I couldn’t leave without expressing my gratitude a second time. He laughed. 

Even decades later, I remain deeply grateful for my time in Uncle Sunday’s class. He continues to hold a special place in my heart because I can trace my love and appreciation for learning back to him.

By “learning,” I don’t mean just sitting quietly while someone throws knowledge at me. Uncle Sunday introduced me and my colleagues to something new: he believed we could think. He involved us in the process of learning and trusted that even as 8- and 10-year-olds, our experiences were valuable knowledge resources. Rather than simply telling us what we needed to know, he recognised the seeds of understanding we already had and guided us in discovering why facts and knowledge existed in the first place. His class gave me confidence—confidence that I already knew things that could help me learn more and that my knowledge was just as valuable as that of the so-called experts. He taught me that real expertise is about reasoning, not just memorising facts. He particularly made me see and love science as a way of creatively exploring the world. 

As a 9-year-old, I remember how excited I was whenever we started a new topic. I knew I wasn’t just going to hear new facts—I was about to explore why things were the way they were.

Two things I didn’t realise back then as a 9-year-old in his class but have come to understand over time were Uncle Sunday’s true impact on me and the sacrifices he must have made for that impact.

First, his impact. Yes, he made me love learning, but it was more than that. He gave me a vision of education that has become central to my career. My experience in his class was something I could never unsee. So, when later experiences in high school and higher education framed learning—especially in the sciences—as merely memorising facts for exams, I knew there was a better way. Uncle Sunday’s class became my resistance shield against years of rote learning, protecting my belief that education could be a creative, engaging process. This shaped my decision to become an education researcher, dedicated to creating models that unlock people’s ability to think critically, not just memorise. I can’t recall how many times I have had to call my experience in his class to mind in my current PhD research.

Second, his sacrifice. As a 9-year-old, I couldn’t grasp what it meant for a young, smart man like him to choose teaching as a career when he could have pursued something more lucrative or prestigious. I now understand that sacrifice more clearly, especially as I chose an academic career path myself, sometimes to the surprise of those who believed I could have done “better” with my first-class degree in geology.

Today, I deeply understand the impact Uncle Sunday made on me and the sacrifice it required. Coming from a family of educators— with my mom and two of my sisters dedicating their lives to teaching—I have seen firsthand the challenges and sacrifices teachers face and the profound difference they make in people’s lives.

As we celebrate Teacher’s Day, I want to honour the sacrifices and impact of teachers like Uncle Sunday. Despite low pay, inadequate recognition, personal challenges, and the complexities of the job, these heroes keep showing up, day after day, to make a difference in the lives of countless students. 

On behalf of everyone who has been deeply impacted by a teacher, I wish all our teachers a happy teacher’s day! You deserve to be celebrated every single day. And to Uncle Sunday Ilori who I hope gets to see this, thank you again!

Oluwatoyin is a STEM Education Doctoral Researcher, Social Impact Founder and Education Policy Advocate.  She writes from Nigeria and the United States. She can be reached at [email protected] or on LinkedIn here.