The 11th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year competition has officially commenced, with Nigerian Breweries Plc announcing the call for entries during a flag-off ceremony held in Lagos on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Submissions are open from June 24, 2025, until Friday, August 22, 2025. This esteemed competition, a brainchild of the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, is a pivotal initiative designed to recognize, celebrate, and reward exceptional teachers across Nigeria's public and private secondary schools, while simultaneously fostering a culture of excellence in teaching.

Eligible teachers interested in participating can easily do so by visiting the dedicated website, www.maltinateacheroftheyear.com, to complete the entry form online. For those who prefer an alternative method, the form can be downloaded, completed, scanned, and then emailed to [email protected]. This dual approach ensures broad accessibility for all prospective applicants.

During the flag-off ceremony, Hans Essaadi, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, whose remarks were delivered by the Corporate Affairs Director, Uzodinma Odenigbo, reiterated the company's unwavering commitment to honoring the invaluable contributions of teachers. Mr. Essaadi expressed profound gratitude to the lead and supporting sponsors, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Air Peace, and First City Monument Bank, whose consistent support has been instrumental in sustaining and expanding the initiative year after year. He also acknowledged the vital role played by key educational bodies, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), whose collaboration has ensured the competition's credibility and far-reaching impact. He remarked, “Today, we begin another chapter in this story, a celebration of the men and women who give so much of themselves to nurture the minds and shape the future of the next generation. We are encouraged by how the competition continues to grow – from the number of entries we receive each year, to the increasing involvement of partner organisations and even greater government engagement. It tells us one thing: our collective effort to raise the profile of teachers in Nigeria is working.”

Sarah Agha, the Marketing Director at Nigerian Breweries Plc, also spoke at the ceremony, reaffirming Maltina’s deep-rooted connection to this significant cause. She articulated Maltina’s mission: “At Maltina, our mission is to nourish lives and share happiness. No one deserves happiness more than our teachers – the quiet heroes who shape our children’s futures.” Ms. Agha further highlighted that beyond providing monetary rewards to winners, the initiative has successfully elevated the status of teachers, fostered positive community impact, and made substantial contributions to educational development throughout Nigeria.

Uzodinma Odenigbo, speaking in his capacity as the Corporate Affairs Director for Nigerian Breweries Plc, described the competition as a transformative platform that perfectly aligns with Nigerian Breweries’ overarching commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education). He underscored the powerful ripple effects that the initiative has generated across various schools and communities, largely through the inspiring journeys of past winners. He confirmed that secondary school teachers from both public and private institutions are indeed eligible to participate in this 11th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year competition.

Regarding the rewards for the 2025 edition, Mr. Odenigbo detailed an impressive prize structure designed to provide significant recognition and support. The overall winner will receive a prestigious trophy, a substantial total cash prize of N10 million, an invaluable capacity development training opportunity abroad, and a significant school infrastructure project worth N30 million to be implemented in their respective school. The first runner-up will be awarded a trophy along with a total sum of N5,000,000, while the second runner-up will receive a trophy and N3,000,000. Furthermore, all State Champions will be honored with recognition plaques and a generous cash prize of N1,000,000 each.

Representatives from various education sector stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), were present and commended the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund for its crucial complementary role in advancing educational development in Nigeria through this initiative. They collectively assured the Trust Fund of their continued commitment to contribute towards boosting participation in the competition, underscoring its importance. The Maltina Teacher of the Year competition was initially established in 2015 and is fully funded through the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, which itself was set up in 1994 with the explicit aim of actively contributing to Nigeria's education sector development, directly aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4.