Busayo Adeyemo of Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos State has emerged the winner of the 12th edition of the prestigious Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Adeyemo, who was declared the winner of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, received a cash prize of ₦10,000,000 (ten million naira), a Honda HR-V, an all-expenses-paid overseas capacity development training, a year supply of Maltina, and a ₦30 million school infrastructure project to be built in her honour by the Nigerian Breweries–Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. For the winner, the icing on the cake came when Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu rewarded her with a 3-bedroom apartment. Beyond the gift, Adeyemo also won the Maltina Prize for Best STEM Teacher, going home with a cash prize of ₦1.5 million.

The first runner-up, Yusuf Cariyat of Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE), Sauka, Lugbe, Abuja, FCT, went home with ₦5,000,000, while the second runner-up, Ephraim Jacob Inyangudo of Comprehensive Secondary School, Ediene Abak LGA, Akwa Ibom State, received ₦3,000,000. In addition, 17 other teachers who emerged as State Champions from their respective states received ₦1,000,000 each for their outstanding performance and commitment to excellence in teaching.

Speaking at the grand finale, the host and Governor, Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund(NB-FOETF) for its commitment towards honouring teachers through the deployment of corporate resources meant to elevate them.

Sanwo-Olu described the intervention by the Trust Fund as the best way to deepen partnership between the company and the public sector while also delivering its corporate social responsibilities.

Also speaking at the occasion, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, noted that the Trust Fund through the competition has not only given teachers their due recognition, visibility, dignity and reward through its investment in classrooms, libraries and learning facilities but also improve the learning environment.

Tinubu expressed readiness to partner with NB-FOETF for its planned long-term support for out-of-school children, through its new initiative, billed to commence in 2027.

According to him, this new initiative will build on the trust fund’s long-standing focus on teachers and learning environments, while also expanding access for more Nigerian children.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman, Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, and Managing Director, NB Plc, Thibaut Boidin, explained that the competition since inception has been dedicated to celebrating outstanding educators across Nigeria while recognizing their contribution to the growth of the society.

Boidin noted that this year’s edition is quite symbolic as it coincides with the celebrations of the company for 80 years, Maltina for 50 years, the trust fund for 32 years of investing in education.

While commending teachers for their labour and sacrifices for future generations, he noted that teaching should not be seen as a profession but rather an act of service to the nation.

“Tonight, we see your commitment, the sacrifices, surprises that may never appear on a report card. We see the extra time you give to a struggling student, the patience, the courage and the optimism required to keep believing in the next generation. We honor you and we thank you,” he said.

He described the competition as quite significant given that all winners, including State Champions, carry the hope of not only the school but the community.

In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, applauded the NB-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund (NB-FOETF) for sustaining a platform that honours educators and professional excellence in teaching by investing in the foundation of Nigeria’s future.

Alausa noted that this year’s edition, which has a strong participation, reflects the depth of teaching talents across the country.

He stated that the recognition of outstanding teachers and support of school infrastructure by NB-FOETF is a clear demonstration of how corporate investment can make a meaningful contribution to our education system.

“I am particularly pleased that the Trust Fund is extending its intervention to address the challenges of out-of-school children which aligns perfectly with the pressing national priority,” he added.

Speaking during the event, the Public Relations Officer, NB-FOETF/Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Uzodinma Odenigbo, disclosed that thus far the competition has honoured 305 outstanding teachers, supported schools with educational infrastructure, and delivered eleven school infrastructure project.

Odenigbo noted that this year’s edition recorded a 30% increase in the number of entries, with unprecedented figure of 2,510 entries from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, out of which 2,243 were valid entries.

He expressed deep appreciation to TRCN for its partnership which contributed to the strong participation as well as other educational stakeholders for their support.

Both partners-Union Bank Plc and Honda Manufacturing Nigeria Limited expressed profound appreciation to NB-FOETF and other stakeholders for their dedication in making the initiative a success and recognizing the people who shape Nigeria’s future, one learner at a time.

At the grand finale event, one of the Slum2School Africa scholars, Mariam Alade who delivered the keynote address spoke on the need to support and empower teachers considering the role they play in molding the lives of children who holds the future for Nigeria.

Speaking shortly after her emergence, winner, 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, Busayo Adeyemo expressed deep appreciation to the NB-FOETF, Lagos State government and the partners for the reward, noting that it is a big motivation to do more.

“I am excited, thankful and grateful about this competition and the rewards that have followed. This award simply means that I should keep giving my best. It’s a reminder that I have a responsibility not to relent but to keep giving my best, committing myself to teachers’ development in Lagos and Nigeria, keep advancing STEM education in Nigeria, and believing in the Nigerian children that tomorrow shall be great,” she said.

Since inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has produced eleven grand prize winners, and they include 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), Esomnofu Ifechukwu (2024) and Serah Yusuf(2025). The 2026 winner, Busayo Adeyemo, now joins the elite league of national education ambassadors

ABOUT MALTINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

In 2015, Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund introduced the Maltina Teacher of the Year, a national competition to identify, honour, and reward outstanding teachers in Nigeria.

The Maltina Teacher of the Year is supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders in education, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

ABOUT NIGERIAN BREWERIES-FELIX OHIWEREI EDUCATION TRUST FUND

The Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was set up in 1994 with a startup capital of 100 million Naira to enable sustained quality education through structured intervention.

The Fund has footprints across the six geographical zones in Nigeria at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of education. Through the Fund, NB Plc has constructed and furnished over 400 classrooms, sanitary facilities, and libraries in 74 communities across the nation. The Fund has also granted scholarships.

ABOUT NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC

Nigerian Breweries Plc, incorporated in 1946, is Nigeria’s pioneer and largest brewing company. With 23 malt and beer brands within its portfolio, it serves the Nigerian market and exports to other parts of West Africa. Nigerian Breweries Plc, driven by the corporate philosophy of “Winning with Nigeria”, has continued to take an increasingly active role in supporting education, among our other CSR focus areas.