A Lagos State teacher Adeola Adefemi has won the 2023 Maltina Teacher of the Year award.
She was announced as the winner at the ceremony which held in Lekki,Lagos on Saturday night.
Adefemi, who teaches English Language at Keke Senior High School, Agege, under the state’s Education District 1, is the first Lagos teacher to win the award.
She defeated Azuh Chike Emmanuel of Delta State who was first runner up and Adam Abdulqadir Nda of Niger who was second runner up to win the prize.
Adefemi went home with N6.5 million; Azuh in second position took N1.5 million while Adam Abdulqadir Nda in third place took N1.2 million.
Lagos Commissioner for Basic Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said: “Teaching is an honorable profession. Teachers are parents of every student when in school,there are a lot who formed bond with their students. It is the pride of every teacher to see their wards succeed in life. We are proud to resonate with this award which supports and empowers teachers.
“Our administration in Lagos will continue to support creativity and performance of teachers on the job. No subject area in our public schools will lack qualified teachers. I commend the organisers for continuing this award.”
Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, noted that no education reform could take place without teachers.
“This event is an impactful landmark. It sets out to celebrate outstanding teachers. Today marks a milestone in revamping the
education sector.
“No education reform will take place without teachers. Our education is focused on developing children through the efforts of teachers. The new national policy of education is aimed at capacity building and so on. All these are in alignment with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.It is important to support this administration to achieve the agenda,” he said.
Corporate Affairs Director of Nigerian Breweries PLC, Mrs. Sade Morgan, noted that entries for this year were the highest ever in the history of the competition.
“We had 1499 entries, the highest number ever. It shows the competition is popular and recognized in Nigeria. We had 1203 eligible entries. Teachers who participated are registered members of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN),” she said.
The Nigerian Breweries Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was set up in 1994 with a start-up capital of 100 million naira to enable sustained quality education through structured intervention in the sector.
The Fund has footprints across the six geographical zones in Nigeria at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.
