Esomnofu Ifechukwu, a teacher at Crown Grace School, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, has been named the winner of the 10th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition. The announcement was made at the Grand Finale held in Lagos on Friday, October 11, 2024.
Ifechukwu’s achievement comes with a N10 million cash prize, as well as an all-expense-paid capacity development training abroad. In addition, Crown Grace School will benefit from a N30 million infrastructure project to support educational development at the institution.
Kehinde Olukayode, representing Molusi College, Ogun State, and Aniefiok Udoh from Community Secondary Commercial School, Akwa Ibom State, were named first and second runners-up, receiving N3 million and N2 million respectively. Additionally, 34 state champions were each awarded N1 million, highlighting the competition’s commitment to recognising outstanding educators across Nigeria.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented at the event by Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Jamiu Alli-Balogun, commended Nigerian Breweries for their consistent investment in education through the NB-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. He lauded the dedication of teachers, recognising their pivotal role in shaping the future of the nation.
Sanwo-Olu further emphasised the impact of the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative, noting its contribution to uplifting the teaching profession and improving educational infrastructure across the country. He highlighted Lagos State’s own benefit from the initiative, such as the digital language lab donated to Keke Senior High School in honour of the 2023 winner, Adeola Adefemi.
“This donation is one of the lasting legacies of the NB-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. I applaud them for this impactful initiative. Since 2015, the initiative has continued to serve as a national platform to recognise, honour, and reward the outstanding efforts of teachers across the country,” he remarked.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, represented by Adedotun Abdul of Yaba College of Technology, also praised the competition for its role in fostering excellence among educators. Sununu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the teaching profession through a recently developed National Teaching Policy.
Hans Essaadi, Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, reflected on the competition’s ten-year history, underlining its role in acknowledging the critical contributions of teachers.
“This year’s edition is special because it is the tenth. We have reached this milestone because every teacher, parent, and student believes in the power of education. It is indeed heartwarming that we are gathered here to celebrate the role of teachers as society’s foundation stone on which all professions stand tall,” Essaadi said.
Corporate Affairs Director Sade Morgan highlighted the impressive participation in this year’s edition, with a record-breaking 1,300 valid entries from Nigeria’s 37 states. She noted that the 2024 competition marked the highest participation in its history.
Prof. Pat Utomi, Chairman of the Panel of Judges, described this year’s edition as the most keenly contested since the competition’s inception. He praised the quality of entries, attributing it to the versatility of Nigerian teachers and the rising standard of education in the country.
In his acceptance speech, Ifechukwu expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, describing the win as a long-awaited dream come true, having applied for the competition since 2020.
Since its inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has celebrated ten exceptional educators, with past winners including Rose Nkemdilim Obi in 2015 and Adeola Adefemi in 2023. The initiative continues to spotlight the dedication and impact of teachers, reinforcing their importance in shaping the nation’s future.
