Applications Now Open for 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Award

The Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has kicked off entries for the 12th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition. Submissions are open from Thursday, 3 June 2026, to Friday, 7 August 2026.

This competition is a nationwide effort to find, recognize, and reward excellent secondary school teachers. These teachers play an important role in shaping the future of Nigeria.

At the launch event, Uaboi Agbebaku, Secretary of the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, said this competition is a key way to celebrate teachers. Their dedication, creativity, and hard work have a big impact on the education system.

Agbebaku mentioned that several organizations want to partner with the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund to support this year’s competition. He said they are happy to welcome reputable organizations that share the competition's goals.

In his speech, Mr. Uzodinma Odenigbo, the Public Relations Officer for the Trust Fund, revealed that the overall winner will get a cash prize of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00). The winner will also receive a new Honda HR-V, a year’s supply of Maltina, and training abroad. The winner’s school will benefit from a project worth 30 million naira (N30,000,000.00).

“The first runner-up will get N5,000,000.00 (five million naira) and a trophy. The second runner-up will receive N3,000,000 (three million naira) and a trophy. All state champions will earn recognition plaques and N1,000,000 (one million naira) each,” Odenigbo added.

He confirmed the company's long-standing promise to support education. They seek to improve teaching and learning across Nigeria.

“The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition is one of our main ways to support education. We want to honor teachers who inspire students and help develop future leaders. At Nigerian Breweries, we believe that supporting teachers is supporting Nigeria’s future,” he said.

He thanked all partners, including Honda Automobile West Africa Limited, Union Bank Plc, and Air Peace, for their support of this initiative.

The guest speaker, Azeez Saheed, spoke about how important teachers are in shaping young minds. He pointed out that many teachers in Nigeria do not get the recognition they deserve and called on the federal government to change this.

During a panel discussion on “How Educational Support Can Enhance Learning Outcomes for Teachers and Students,” Princess Adaobi Ekwuno, Lagos State Coordinator for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), stressed the need for government investment in public school facilities.

Gbenga Ayetoba, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos Chapter, said the teaching profession has faced neglect from past and present governments. He emphasized the need to change how people view education in Nigeria.

Olushola Masheyi, President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Lagos State, praised Nigerian Breweries for this initiative. He noted that teaching no longer attracts the best talents, which affects the quality of education.

Masheyi said the challenges in education cannot be solved by the government alone. He urged everyone involved to seek various support options to tackle these problems.

Representatives from partner organizations praised the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund for its dedication to the initiative.

The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition started in 2015 and is funded by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. This fund was created in 1994 to help develop Nigeria’s education in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4.

Teachers who want to participate can visit the competition website, www.maltinateacheroftheyear.com, to fill out the online application. They can also download the form, fill it out, scan it, and email it to maltinateacheroftheyear@heineken.com.