By Raheem Akingbolu
After the euphoria that heralded the first edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award, instituted by Nigerian Breweries to reward excellence among secondary school teachers, the company has begun process to select this year winner. Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi won the maiden edition of the award.
Now, NB Plc, riding on this euphoria, has sounded the whistle for the commencement of the second edition of the Maltina Teachers Award.
The second edition, according to the company, promises to be bigger and more competitive, because unlike the first edition which was restricted to only public secondary schools in Nigeria, the entry bar for the second edition has been widen to include private secondary schools also.
In a recent press conference to herald the landmark event, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem noted that like in the first edition, at the end of collation of entries and screening, national champions will emerge from each of the 36 states and the FCT, alongside first and second runners up. And the overall winner will emerge at a grand ceremony in commemoration with the World Teachers Day.
According to him, each state champion will get N500 000 and the top 10 teachers will also be recognized before the overall winner is crowned. He also stated that the second and first runner-up will receive trophies and an additional N750 000 and N1million respectively. The Maltina Teacher of the Year 2016 will get an additional N1million instantly plus another prize of N1million every year for the next five years, alongside a developmental training opportunity abroad and a block of classroom built at the school where the winner teaches.
According to him, the company hopes that through this initiative, it can inspire the nation to accord teachers their deserved credit and bring back respect to the teaching profession in Nigeria. He added that that the objective of the award is to create an avenue where exceptional teachers will be showcased and rewarded annually and continuously.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative was launched in 2015 through the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. It is designed to recognise, celebrate and motivate teachers in Nigeria as part of Nigerian Breweries commitment to the development of education.
Meanwhile, collection of applications has commenced and will last till 30th June 2016. All state champions and winners will be celebrated and rewarded in October in commemoration of the World Teachers day.
