Get Guardian on GoogleA teacher in a Lagos school, Busayo Adeyemo, has emerged the winner of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition.
Adeyemo, who teaches at Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos, emerged winner at the grand finale held in Lagos, beating thousands of teachers from across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
For emerging as the overall winner, Adeyemo received a cash prize of N10 million, a Honda HR-V vehicle, an all-expenses-paid overseas capacity development training, a year’s supply of Maltina, and a N30 million school infrastructure project to be built in her honour by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.
Beyond the prizes from the organisers, the winner received an additional reward from the Lagos State Government, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announcing a three-bedroom apartment gift.
Adeyemo also won the Maltina Prize for Best Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Teacher at the same event, going home with an additional cash prize of N1.5 million.
The first runner-up was Yusuf Cariyat of Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE), Sauka, Lugbe, Abuja, who went home with N5 million, while the second runner-up, Ephraim Inyangudo of Comprehensive Secondary School, Ediene Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, received N3 million.
In addition, 17 other teachers who emerged as State Champions from their respective states received N1million each for their outstanding performance and commitment to excellence in teaching.
Speaking at the grand finale, Sanwo-Olu commended the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund (NB-FOETF) for its commitment to honouring teachers by deploying corporate resources to elevate them.
Sanwo-Olu described the trust fund’s intervention as the best way to deepen the partnership between the company and the public sector while also delivering on its corporate social responsibilities.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, who represented President Bola Tinubu, noted that the trust fund, through the competition, has not only given teachers their due recognition, visibility, dignity and reward through its investment in classrooms, libraries and learning facilities, but has also improved the learning environment.
Tinubu expressed readiness to partner with the NB-FOETF on its planned long-term support for out-of-school children through its new initiative, billed to commence in 2027.
According to him, the new initiative will build on the fund’s long-standing focus on teachers and learning environments, while also expanding access for more Nigerian children.
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of NB-FOETF and Managing Director of NB Plc, Thibaut Boidin, explained that the competition, since its inception, has been dedicated to celebrating outstanding educators across Nigeria while recognising their contribution to the growth of society.
Boidin noted that this year’s edition is quite symbolic, as it coincides with the company’s 80th anniversary, Maltina’s 50th anniversary, and the Trust Fund’s 32 years of investing in education.
While commending teachers for their labour and sacrifices for future generations, he noted that teaching should not be seen as a profession, but rather, an act of service to the nation.
He described the competition as quite significant, given that all winners, including State Champions, carry the hopes of not only the school but also the community.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, applauded the NB-FOETF for sustaining a platform that honours educators and professional excellence in teaching by investing in the foundation of Nigeria’s future.
Alausa noted that this year’s edition, which recorded strong participation, reflects the depth of teaching talent across the country.
He stated that the recognition of outstanding teachers and support of school infrastructure by NB-FOETF is a clear demonstration of how corporate investment can make a meaningful contribution to the education system.
“I am particularly pleased that the trust fund is extending its intervention to address the challenges of out-of-school children, which aligns perfectly with the pressing national priority,” he added.
Public Relations Officer, NB-FOETF and Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uzodinma Odenigbo, said the competition has honoured 305 outstanding teachers, supported schools with educational infrastructure, and delivered 11 school infrastructure projects.
Odenigbo noted that this year’s edition recorded a 30 per cent increase in entries, with an unprecedented 2,510 from all 36 states and the FCT, of which 2,243 were valid.
He expressed deep appreciation to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) for its partnership, which contributed to the strong participation, as well as other educational stakeholders for their support.
At the grand finale, one of the Slum2School Africa scholars, Mariam Alade, who delivered the keynote address, spoke on the need to support and empower teachers, given their role in moulding the lives of children who hold Nigeria’s future.
Adeyemo expressed deep appreciation to the NB-FOETF, Lagos State government and the partners for the reward, saying it is a big motivation to do more.
“I am excited, thankful and grateful about this competition and the rewards that have followed.
This award simply means that I should keep giving my best. It’s a reminder that I have a responsibility not to relent but to keep giving my best, committing myself to teachers’ development, keeping advancing STEM education and believing in the Nigerian children that tomorrow shall be great,” she said.
Since inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has produced 11 winners, and they include 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), Adeola Adefemi (2023), Esomnofu Ifechukwu (2024) and Serah Yusuf (2025).
