By DAYO ADESULU
Lagos (Nigeria): Adeola Adedunke Adefemi of Keke Senior High School, Agege, Lagos has emerged the winner of the 9th edition of the coveted Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition at the Grand Finale held in Lagos on Friday, October 20, 2023.
Adefemi, having emerged as the winner, received a total cash prize of N6.5 million. Additionally, she will be rewarded with an all-expense paid capacity development training in the UK, and the Fund will also build either a fully equipped computer laboratory or a six-classroom block worth N20 million for her school in her honour.
Azuh Chike of Ezemu Girls Grammar School, Delta State emerged as the first runner-up, with a total cash prize of N1.5 million while Adam Abdulqadir Ndi of Model Science College, Niger State, emerged as the second runner-up, with N1.25 million cash prize. In addition, 27 other teachers who emerged as state champions from their respective states received N500,000.00 each.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed that there are growing national efforts to bring back the glory days of teachers in Nigeria. He noted that the new national teaching policy developed by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with education stakeholders addresses the career path, remuneration, teaching standards, qualification, capacity development and other vital issues to revitalise the teaching profession.
Sununu said, “Education is our collective responsibility, and its failure can be taken as the failure of the entire country. It is based on this that the Federal Ministry of Education recognises and commends the efforts of Nigeria Breweries Plc-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund to celebrate outstanding teachers across Nigeria.”
Delivering the special remarks on behalf of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, lauded Nigerian Breweries Plc for its significant contributions towards making the teaching profession an enviable one amidst the low morale. He noted that the Lagos State government appreciates the significance of such competition in improving the quality of teaching and students’ performance.
“As a government, we are proud to identify with this Award because it resonates with our teacher’s welfare programme. We appreciate that teachers are at the heart of successful learning, so we introduced the EKOEXCEL TRAINING to support and empower them and impact pupil and teacher success”, he said.
The Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan in her remarks, expressed deep gratitude to all valued stakeholders and partners for their immense support for the competition, particularly the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for providing the company with access to its database of verified and registered teachers as well as providing the teachers with adequate information about the competition. and requirements for the application process.
Morgan disclosed that the number of entries for this year’s edition of the competition was unprecedented as it witnessed the highest number of entries ever, with a record-breaking 1,499 entries from all 36 federation states, including the Federal Capital Territory. “We received an impressive 1,203 valid entries, the second-highest number we have received since the competition’s inception,” she said.
In his keynote address, the Chairman Board of Directors, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Asue Ighodalo, said that the Maltina Teacher of the Year competition provides the rare opportunity to recognise the magnificent roles of teachers and to do more in support of those individuals who take pride in this noble profession. He added that the company’s investment in the competition through Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund aims to advance the quality of education at all levels in Nigeria.
“Through the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, now in its 9th edition, we have been able to uplift the nobility of the profession by successfully recognising a total of 211 State Champions, 8 National Champions, and equipping eight schools with educational facilities such as blocks of classrooms, an auditorium, computer laboratories, and a library. It is certain that at the end of today, another star will be born as an outstanding teacher deserving of the title “Maltina Teacher of the Year”, Ighodalo stated.
Since its inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative has produced nine grand winners: Rose Nkemdilim Obi (2015), Imoh Essien (2016), Felix Ariguzo (2017), Olasunkanmi Opeifa (2018), Ezem Collins (2019), Oluwabunmi Anani (2020), Abanika Taiye (2021), Alaku Ayiwulu ( 2022).
