Maltina Teacher Awards Winner to Receive N10 Million and a Honda Car

Raheem Akingbolu

The overall winner of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition will receive a brand‑new Honda HR‑V and a grand prize of N10 million, announced the management of Nigerian Breweries‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.

Speaking at the flag‑off and call‑for‑entry event for the 12th edition of the award in Lagos, Oluseye Olokun, Sustainability Manager at Nigerian Breweries Plc, noted that this year’s winner will, for the first time, also receive a brand‑new Honda HR‑V in addition to the N10 million prize.

Entries opened recently and will close on 7 August. The 2026 winner will be announced at the grand finale scheduled for 30 October.

In addition to the cash prize and the vehicle, the winner will receive N30 million for school infrastructure, a one‑year supply of Maltina, and international capacity‑building training.

As in previous years, the first runner‑up will receive N5 million, the second runner‑up N3 million, and the top teachers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will each receive N1 million.

Olokun highlighted that Kaduna, Lagos and Abuja produced the highest number of entries in the 2025 edition, with over 2 000 submissions, and expressed optimism that this year’s entries will increase.

Olokun said, “This competition was launched with the objectives of recognising and rewarding exceptional teachers and improving teachers’ passion. We have received over 11 700 entries since the inception of this competition.”

In his welcome remarks, Mr. Uzodinma Odenigbo, Public Relations Officer of the NB‑Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, reiterated that the overall winner for the 2026 edition will receive a cash prize of N10 000 000, 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 valued at N30 million.

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

He reaffirmed the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting education through 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.

Delivering the keynote remarks, guest speaker Azeez Saheed underscored the significant role of teachers in shaping the future of young students.

Azeez 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,” 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 during the session, Gbenga Ayetoba, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos Chapter, 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, Olushola Masheyi, President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Lagos State, commended NB Plc for the initiative and noted that the teaching profession was no longer attracting the best, stating that this has been responsible for the low quality of education in the country.