Entries open for the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition

The Nigerian Breweries‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has announced that entries for the 12th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition are now open. Submissions will be accepted from Thursday, June 3, 2026, to Friday, August 7, 2026.

The competition is a nationwide initiative that seeks to identify, recognise and reward outstanding secondary‑school teachers for their contributions to shaping Nigeria’s future.

At the flag‑off ceremony, Secretary of the Trust Fund, Uaboi Agbebaku, said the event provides a vital platform for celebrating teachers whose dedication, innovation and commitment continue to transform lives and strengthen the nation’s education system.

Agbebaku also revealed that several organisations have expressed interest in partnering with the Trust Fund to support this year’s competition. He added that the Trust Fund is opening partnership opportunities to reputable and progressive organisations that share the initiative’s vision and mission.

In his welcome remarks, Public Relations Officer Mr. Uzodinma Odenigbo disclosed that the overall winner of the 2026 edition will receive a cash prize of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00), a brand‑new Honda HR‑V, a year’s supply of Maltina, and an overseas capacity‑development training opportunity. The winner’s school will also receive an infrastructure project worth thirty million naira (N30,000,000.00).

“The first runner‑up will receive a total sum of N5,000,000.00 and a trophy, while the second runner‑up will receive N3,000,000 and a trophy. All state champions will be awarded recognition plaques and a cash prize of N1,000,000 each,” Odenigbo added.

He reaffirmed the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting education through impactful interventions that strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.

“The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition remains one of our flagship interventions in the education sector. Through this initiative, we continue to celebrate teachers who go beyond the classroom to inspire excellence, nurture future leaders and contribute meaningfully to national development. At Nigerian Breweries, we believe that investing in teachers is an investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said.

He expressed profound appreciation to all partners, including Honda Automobile West Africa Limited, Union Bank Plc, and Air Peace, for their invaluable support in advancing the initiative.

Guest speaker Azeez Saheed delivered the keynote remarks, underscoring the significant role of teachers in shaping the future of young students.

Saheed explained that most teachers in Nigeria do not receive adequate recognition for their efforts, urging the federal government to reverse the narrative.

During a panel session titled “How Educational Support Can Enhance Learning Outcomes for Teachers and Students” at the occasion, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Princess Adaobi Ekwuno, emphasized the need for government at all levels to invest in and upgrade facilities or infrastructure in public schools.

In his submission, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos Chapter, Gbenga Ayetoba, explained that the teaching profession has suffered neglect from governments both now and in the past, stating that there is a need to change the orientation or mentality around education in Nigeria.

On his part, President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Lagos State, Olushola Masheyi, commended NB Plc for the initiative and noted that the teaching profession was no longer attracting the best, attributing this to the low quality of education in the country.

Masheyi stated that the challenges confronting teaching cannot be addressed by the government alone, urging stakeholders to explore different support structures to find a lasting solution to the myriad of problems.

In separate submissions, representatives of the partners for the initiative commended the Nigerian Breweries‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund for its tireless effort in sustaining the initiative.

The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition was established in 2015 and is funded through the Nigerian Breweries‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, which was set up in 1994 to facilitate an active contribution to the development of the education sector in Nigeria in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, SDG No. 4.

Eligible teachers interested in participating can visit the dedicated competition website and complete the online application form. Applicants may also download the form, complete it, scan it, and email it to [email protected].

ABOUT MALTINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

In 2015, Nigerian Breweries‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund introduced the Maltina Teacher of the Year, a national competition, to identify, honour and reward outstanding teachers in Nigeria.

Maltina Teacher of the Year is proudly endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education and other education stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

ABOUT NIGERIAN BREWERIES‑FELIX OHIWEREI EDUCATION TRUST FUND

The Nigerian Breweries‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was set up in 1994 with a startup capital of 100 million naira to enable sustained quality education through structured intervention in the sector.

The Fund has a footprint across the six geographical zones in Nigeria at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education. Through the Fund, NB Plc has constructed and furnished over 400 classrooms, sanitary facilities, and libraries in 74 communities across the country. The Fund has also granted scholarships to deserving students in tertiary institutions.