The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating teachers and strengthening partnerships to uplift the education sector as the 11th Maltina Teacher of the Year Stakeholders Engagement Meeting was held in Abuja. The meeting, which follows an earlier engagement in Lagos, brought together key education stakeholders, government officials, and private sector partners to deliberate on ways to further elevate the teaching profession.
Speaking at the engagement, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described teachers as the “cornerstone of national development” and emphasised that honouring their work must remain a collective priority. She praised the competition for not only rewarding individuals but also providing infrastructural support to schools, which directly improves learning outcomes.
“The Federal Ministry of Education will continue to support initiatives that promote and reward quality teaching. Education is a shared responsibility, and this competition has proven that celebrating teachers can inspire systemic change,” Professor Ahmad stated.
She urged the organisers, Nigerian Breweries Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, to provide digital copies of promotional materials to encourage wider participation, particularly across the country’s 108 Unity Colleges. She further recommended expanding the award categories to capture the diverse contributions of teachers nationwide.
The Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. Ronke Soyombo, echoed the Minister’s position, noting that recognising teachers not only builds morale but also reshapes public perception of the profession. “Rewarding teachers is a practical approach to strengthening their capacity and inspiring transformation in the sector,” she said.
Corporate Affairs Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Uzodinma Odenigbo, represented by Mr. Chukwuemeka Aniukwu, gave an overview of the competition’s journey. He explained that since its inception in 2015, the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative has honoured 278 teachers through cash prizes and international training programmes, funded by a ₦100 million endowment established in 1994. He also extended a formal invitation to Professor Ahmad to attend the Grand Finale in November, which will be broadcast live on DSTV.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Dr. Clinton J. Kpitibio, commended the initiative for providing teachers nationwide with a platform to shine and be recognised for their vital role in nation-building.
In a technical session, the Project Manager of the competition, Mr. Daniel Adewonbi, reflected on its decade-long impact. He highlighted the theme of the 2025 edition, “A Decade of Producing Shining Stars”, as a reminder of the sustained inspiration the competition has provided to both teachers and students across Nigeria.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, now in its 11th year, remains one of the country’s most impactful platforms for celebrating educators and reinforcing the teaching profession as central to Nigeria’s development journey.
Signed
Folasade Boriowo
Director, Press and Public Relations
