The Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has officially launched the 2025 edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year competition, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to celebrating and uplifting the teaching profession in Nigeria. The flag-off ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 24, at the company’s Lagos headquarters.
Speaking at the event, Hans Essaadi, Managing Director and CEO of Nigerian Breweries Plc, represented by the Corporate Affairs Director, Uzodinma Odenigbo, highlighted the impact of the initiative since its inception in 2015. He revealed that 278 teachers have been celebrated and recognised, with ten emerging as national champions. He noted that many of these winners have gone on to achieve remarkable success not just in their careers, but in their communities and the lives of their students.
Odenigbo also pointed out that the platform has contributed significantly to education infrastructure in the country, with nine school projects already executed. He added that two cohorts of previous winners have participated in international training programs at the University of Manchester in the UK and Tampere University in Finland. He reiterated that the competition continues to grow, becoming a powerful tool for honouring educators and promoting excellence in Nigeria’s education sector.
He officially announced the opening of the 2025 edition, which will run until Friday, August 22, 2025. He encouraged eligible secondary school teachers to submit their entries online via the competition’s website or in hard copy at any of Nigerian Breweries’ corporate affairs offices across the country.
Marketing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Sarah Agha, described the initiative as deeply aligned with Maltina’s brand purpose of nourishing lives and sharing happiness. She said teachers play a vital role in shaping the minds and hearts of children and called for widespread support to make this year’s competition more visible and impactful.
Sustainability Manager Seyi Olokun noted that the competition has received over 9,000 entries over the years, with more than 6,000 validated. He emphasized that the initiative is designed to recognise, celebrate, and reward exceptional teachers, and highlighted key updates to this year’s prizes. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of N10 million, while the first and second runners-up will take home N5 million and N3 million respectively. Each state champion will also be rewarded with N1 million and additional gifts. He stressed that applicants must be secondary school teachers in Nigeria, not more than 35 years old, registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, and currently teaching in either public or private schools.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos State, Akintoye Hassan, applauded the initiative and called for the inclusion of primary school teachers in future editions. He argued that excluding them weakens the foundation of the education system and urged a broader approach.
Olusola Maseyi, Lagos President of ANCOPSS, expressed strong support for the annual celebration of teachers, while Adaobi Ekwuno, Lagos Coordinator of TRCN, praised the initiative for bringing teachers’ rewards closer, stating that its impact transcends individual winners and extends to entire communities.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year competition is supported by several sponsors including Union Bank, Air Peace, and First City Monument Bank, among others. The grand finale of the 11th edition is scheduled to take place on November 21.
