17/08/2025
When Kindness Wasn’t Enough
Being a school proprietor was never just a business for me — it was family.
I didn’t simply hire teachers.
I nurtured them.
I provided accommodation for 80% of my staff, so rent would never be their worry.
There was always tea break and comfort during long school hours — because I believed a cared-for teacher becomes a better one.
Workload was gentle — the least-paid earned ₦45,000 and only handled two key subjects.
Loyalty didn’t go unnoticed — after just two years of service, every teacher received a 22% salary increase without asking.
The school bus was free — for both teachers and students.
I poured in my heart, my resources, and my trust.
But one morning, everything broke.
A new school opened nearby — and without a word, 70% of my teachers walked away.
No notice. No farewell. No "thank you".
They left — even though salaries were never delayed, and I never owed a kobo.
Classrooms emptied.
Children’s laughter faded.
And before I could gather myself… the dream I built with love collapsed.
I shut the school down.
Today, many of those same teachers beg me to reopen.
But I’ve chosen peace.
I no longer lose sleep over payroll.
I no longer carry a burden meant for an army.
To some, I’m “lucky” to be free.
But deep inside, I hold a truth I want every school owner to remember:
You can give your best… and still lose everything.
To every teacher and proprietor — hold this close: Loyalty is the soul of education. Without it, we are only building castles in the sand.