The Nigerian Breweries’ commitment to Education through its Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition took centre stage once again as it recognised exceptional teachers with rewards over #50 million. This year, Esomnofu Ifechukwu of Crown Grace School in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, claimed the top prize with a #10 million cash award. In addition to this financial reward, Ifechukwu has been granted an all-expense-paid overseas training trip to advance his professional skills. Nigerian Breweries will fund Infrastructure projects worth #30 million for his school to further stimulate its academic impact, ensuring long-term benefits for the community and schoolchildren.
Also, the competition’s first runner-up, Kehinde Olukayode from Molusi College, Oke-Sopen in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, received a cash prize of #3 million, while second runner-up, Aniefiok Udoh from Community Secondary Commercial School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, earned #2 million. Additionally, the competition recognised 34 other instructors as State Champions, awarding each of them #1 million for their accomplishments in their respective states. The award ceremony was held in Lagos and attracted notable figures nationwide. Representing the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education.
Lagos State praised the organisation’s strong commitment to education.
Alli-Balogun lauded the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund for its consistent Investment in the education sector through this initiative. According to him, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has not only offered well-deserved recognition to educators but has also served as a beacon of support for the teaching profession in the country. He emphasised the program’s lasting impact, as it brings attention to educators’ immense value to society, often despite the challenges they face in their profession. Further applauding the organisation’s efforts, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, emphasised the importance of recognising and motivating educators.
Dr. Sununu, represented by Adedotun Abdul, Director of Yaba College of Technology, praised the Trust Fund’s dedication to honouring educators and providing essential resources and infrastructure to schools across the region. He noted that initiatives like the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition inspire educators to strive for excellence and promote a Culture of achievement within schools. This program, he stated, not only honours individual educators but also elevates the overall standards of academics by offering resources that enrich the learning environment and promote academic excellence.
Hans outlines the initiative’s core objectives and its impact on academics.
Addressing attendees at the event, Hans Essaadi, Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, underscored the company’s objective with the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, which aims to honour teachers’ role in guiding students to become principled and well-rounded individuals. Essaadi emphasised the invaluable contributions of educators, noting that they instil in students the knowledge, values, and resilience necessary for facing future challenges. He explained that such an initiative reflects the organisation’s belief in the transformative power of academics and its commitment to supporting those at the heart of the learning process.
Essaadi also shared that the Maltina Teacher of the Year program is designed to inspire educators to give their best while encouraging more young people to consider the teaching profession. In his view, initiatives like this can transform the academic sector by improving the quality of teaching and raising the profession’s status across the country. Essaadi called on other organisations across various industries to draw inspiration from this program by finding ways to support instructors and promote education on a national scale.
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Lastly, the competition, now in its 10th edition, has become a hallmark event within the academic sector. It has spotlighted educators who excel at their work, giving them national recognition and tangible support. This year’s awards emphasised the importance of education as a cornerstone of societal growth and the need for public and private collaboration in nurturing this sector. By providing financial rewards, professional development, and infrastructure support, Nigerian Breweries celebrates individual instructors and enhances the quality of education accessible to the students.