Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has announced the flag-off of the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition in an event at the company鈥檚 Lagos office on Tuesday, June 24.
Hans Essaadi, managing director and CEO of Nigerian Breweries Plc, represented by Uzodinma Odenigbo, corporate affairs director at Nigerian Breweries speaking at the flag-off event said since the inception of the initiative over a decade ago, 278 teachers have been celebrated and recognised at different levels; with 10 outstanding individuals emerging as national champions.
Besides, he said many of the winners have gone on to accomplish great things and are indeed doing amazing things, not just in their careers, but also in their communities and the lives of the students.
鈥淭hrough this platform, we have donated nine school infrastructure projects across the country and sponsored two cohorts of past winners from international capacity development programmes at the University of Manchester in the UK and most recently the Tampere University in Finland.
鈥淏eyond this competition, our work in education continues, through the Nigerian Brewery-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, we have supported over 74 communities and more than 450 classrooms and libraries, career guidance for thousands of students and funding for higher education across Nigeria,鈥 he said.
Odenigbo speaking in his capacity as the corporate affairs director said since the inception of the competition in 2015, it has grown into a powerful and transformative platform for celebrating teachers and advancing the cause of education in Nigeria.
Read also: How Nasarawa teacher celebrated N10m win in Maltina Teacher competition
He emphasised that participation has increased over the years and that winners are transforming their communities, as he applauds the ripple effects the competition continues to create.
鈥淚 am pleased to announce that the 2025 edition officially opens today and will run until Friday, August 22, 2025; interested and eligible secondary school teachers should please submit their entries right away at the dedicated website for Maltina Teacher of the Year, which is www.maltinateacheroftheyear.com,鈥 he said.
Moreover, he said hardcopy entries are allowed, and that applicants can submit such entries at any of the company鈥檚 corporate affairs offices across the country.
Sarah Agha, marketing director at Nigerian Breweries said that Maltina as a brand is about nourishing lives and sharing happiness in a contagious way to every Nigerian.
鈥淲hen we think about nourishment, it鈥檚 just not the internal aspect of nourishment and that of course is important, but if you think about outside of the home, the teachers play a fundamental role in nourishing the minds and hearts of our children and that鈥檚 why we will continue to support this programme for many years to come.
鈥淪o my humble request is let鈥檚 make Maltina Teacher of the Year viral starting from today. Let鈥檚 share the news, let鈥檚 make it big, let鈥檚 make people excited because it鈥檚 something that is truly noble and can get this country excited,鈥 she said.
Seyi Olokun, the sustainability manager at Nigerian Breweries said the initiative is basically to recognise, celebrate, and reward exceptional features in Nigeria.
He explained that the initiative has received over 9,000 entries from across the country, out of which 6,000 plus were valid entries.
He emphasised that some of the entry requirements include that the teachers should be teaching in secondary schools, either public or private, not more than 35 years of age, duly registered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, and of course, practicing in Nigeria.
He highlighted some upgrades in the prize money for the 11th edition with grand finale holding on November 21. The winner goes home with a prize money of N10 million, the first runner-up will get N5 million as against N3 million in 2024, while the second runner-up will secure N3 million as against N2.5 million awarded in 2024.
All the state champions will receive a prize money of N1 million each, besides other gifts.
Akintoye Hassan, the chairman of Nigerian Union of Teachers, Lagos State applauded Nigerian Breweries for the impacts the initiative has made in the lives of teachers and the education sector in Nigeria.
However, Hassan agitated the inclusion of primary school teachers in the competition.
鈥淲e must not encourage a system that affects primary school in Nigeria; primary school teachers should be allowed to participate in the competition,鈥 he said.
Olusola Maseyi, Lagos president at ANCOPSS said the confederation will continue to support the idea of celebrating teachers every year.
Adaobi Ekwuno, coordinator of TRCN in Lagos State stressed that with the Nigerian Breweries initiative, teachers鈥 rewards are now on earth, even before they get to heaven.
Ekwuno emphasised that the impact of the initiative goes beyond the winners, as it impacts their communities.
Sponsors include Union Bank, Air-Peace, and First City Monument Bank, among others.