Uchechukwu Nnaike
It was celebration all the way as a teacher at Mastercare International School, Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Felix Udochukwu Ariguzo recently emerged the 2017 Maltina Teacher of the Year at the grand finale held in Lagos.
For the feat, Ariguzo was rewarded with N1 million in addition to the N500,000 he received as his state champion. He will also get N1 million every year for five years; a training programme abroad; and a block of six classrooms will be built at his school.
Ariguzo, a Biology and Chemistry teacher, who said he draws inspiration for teaching from his love for service and knowledge building, thanked Nigerian Breweries for the gesture and enjoined other corporate organisations to emulate the company.
“Today, I am very happy and proud that Nigerian Breweries has shown that teachers’ rewards are both in heaven and on earth,†he said.
The 38-year-old son of a teacher maintained that teaching is not about earning a living, but giving life a meaning and that a strong passion and emotional stability are vital in the teaching profession.
The first runner-up was Mrs. Chika Ume-Ezeoke, a Biology teacher at Our Lady of Apostle, Yaba, Lagos, while Mr. Samuel Emochuaogu, an English teacher at Winners International Academy, Agudama-Epie, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State emerged the second runner-up.
Each of the 27 state champions received N500,000, while the first and second runners-up got an additional N1 million and N750,000 respectively.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Johan Doyer explained that in line with the company’s philosophy of ‘Winning with Nigeria’, it resolved in 1994 to play a more active role in the development of education in Nigeria when it established the Nigerian Breweries- Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund with a commencement capital of N100 million.
He said the fund has impacted over 25,000 students across the country, built 31 classroom blocks and 30 libraries equipped with furniture and books in primary and secondary schools across various communities.
According to Doyer, in 2015, the company’s intervention in education was expanded to include teachers when the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative was launched. He said the initiative was hinged on the realisation that teachers hardly get the recognition they deserve in spite of the pivotal role they play in determining the quality of education and the future of the country.
“Today’s grand finale gives us an opportunity to share happiness with our teachers and I hope that this initiative reminds everyone to support and encourage our teachers always.â€
He thanked stakeholders in the education sector for their support especially the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministries of education in all states, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), among others.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, described teachers as the most critical asset of the nation and thanked the company for the initiative, which she described as a big boost to teachers and the teaching profession.
The initiative has so far produced 69 state champions and three overall winners. In 2015, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi from the Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, Anambra State emerged the winner at the maiden edition, while Mr. Imoh Enoh Essien, a teacher at the Special Education Centre for Exceptional Children, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State won in 2016.
