FCT Teacher, Serah Yusuf, Emerges as 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year

A teacher at Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE), FCT Abuja, Serah Yusuf, has emerged the winner of the 11th Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition at the grand finale held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.

Yusuf received a cash prize of ₦10 million, an all-expense-paid overseas capacity development training, and a ₦30 million infrastructure project to be built in her school by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.

The first runner-up, Adeola Akinsulure from Omole Senior Grammar School, Lagos, received  ₦5 million. In contrast, the second runner-up, Chibuzor Amarikwa from Deeper Life High School, Kwana-Waya Village, Yola, Adamawa State, received ₦3 million. Twenty-four other teachers who emerged as state champions received ₦1 million each for their outstanding performance and commitment to excellence in teaching.

The special guest, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, commended the initiative for elevating the teaching profession and reinforcing its value to society.

Sanwo-Olu thanked the trust fund for its enduring commitment to celebrating teachers, supporting schools, and investing in the future of Nigerian children.

“Nigerian Breweries, what you’re doing here today goes beyond corporate social responsibility; it is simply nation-building. Tonight, we honour the remarkable men and women whose passion, resilience, and creativity shape destinies and prepare our children not just for exams, but for life,” he said.

The governor congratulated the overall winner, urging her to carry the honour with pride and humility as an ambassador of excellence for young people nationwide.

“To every teacher being recognised today, whether you leave with a trophy or not, Lagos State celebrates you, and Nigeria celebrates you. You are the heroes whose work often goes unnoticed, yet whose impact is profound – resounding in every success, every breakthrough, and every community that thrives,” he added.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the initiative as a notable partnership between the private sector and government in recognising those who devote their lives to nurturing the next generation.

“Today is a powerful reminder that teachers are the true architects of national transformation. Behind every thriving society lies a corps of educators whose daily labour shapes minds, nurtures values, and builds the foundation for future progress,” Ahmad said.

She applauded the trust fund for its sustained investment in education and the professional dignity of teachers.

The Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Thibaut Boidin, said that the competition is designed to celebrate winners and honour the profession that shapes other professions, noting that teachers remain “the steady hands shaping tomorrow”. He highlighted the initiative’s growing impact, from improved school facilities to enhanced learning tools and professional recognition.

The brewery’s Corporate Affairs Director, Uzodinma Odenigbo, said that the number of entries for this edition was unprecedented, with over 2,000 entries submitted, the highest in the 11-year history of the competition. He attributed the milestone to the increasing trust teachers nationwide place in the programme, and commended the judges for their integrity and professionalism in evaluating the entries.

Odenigbo thanked the programme’s partners, Union Bank, Air Peace, FCMB, and Eko Hotels & Suites, as well as key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, NUT, ANCOPSS, and TRCN, for their support in funding teacher registrations, which helped achieve the record-breaking turnout.

The winner, who was visibly moved by the announcement, applauded the trust fund for recognising the invaluable role of teachers. She described her win as a powerful motivation to deepen her work, particularly in slum communities.

Since its inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has produced 10 grand prize winners: Rose Nkemdilim Obi (2015), Imoh Essien (2016), Felix Ariguzo (2017), Olasunkanmi Opeifa (2018), Ezem Collins (2019), Oluwabunmi Anani (2020), Abanika Taiye (2021), Alaku Ayiwulu (2022), Adeola Adefemi (2023), and Esomnofu Ifechukwu (2024). Yusuf now joins the prestigious league of national education ambassadors.