Lagos Teacher Emerges Maltina Teacher of the Year, Wins N10m, SUV, 3-Bedroom Flat

Busayo Adeyemi, a Biology teacher with Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos has emerged the winner of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition, securing a N10m cash prize, a brand-new Honda HR-V and a 3-Bed flat.

Adeyemo was announced as the winner at the grand finale of the competition, held Friday at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

The Maltina Teacher of the Year, which celebrates outstanding teachers, is organised by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, in partnership with Union Bank, Air Peace, Eko Hotels and Suites, and Honda Manufacturing Nigeria Limited.

Adeyemo also won a N30 million infrastructure development package for her school, a one-year supply of Maltina and an international capacity-building training programme.

The inclusion of a brand-new Honda HR-V in the winner’s prize package marks the first time the competition will reward its overall winner with a car while the 3-Bedroom apartment was courtesy of Lagos State Governor.

Adeyemo succeeds 31-year-old Serah Yusuf of Wisdom International School of Excellence, Abuja, who won the 2025 edition.

Speaking after her emergence as finalist, Adeyemo said, “I’m grateful for the opportunities to teach, inspire, and make a difference in the lives of learners.”

Yusuf Cariyat, of Wisdom International School of Excellence, emerged as the first runner-up and received N5 million, while Ephraim Jacob Inyangudo of Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwa Ibom State, came third and won N3 million.

The competition attracted 2,243 valid entries from teachers across the country following the opening of submissions on August 7.

The 10 finalists, who emerged as state champions, included Egwu Ngozi of Ibeku High School, Abia State; Inyangudo of Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwa Ibom State; Edumu Christopher of MasterCare International School, Asaba, Delta State; and Isaac of Bethel Secondary School, Benin City, Edo State.

Others were Adeboye Vincent of Ikole City College, Ekiti State; Obiora Uzoamaka of Deeper Life High School, Enugu State; Cariyat of Wisdom International School of Excellence, Abuja; Adeyemo of Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos State; Omotayo Akintunde of Ilugun High School Junior, Abeokuta, Ogun State; and Okegbemi Olukemi of Ilado/Sagbo Community Grammar School, Iseyin, Oyo State.

The finalists underwent online assessments and physical screening before a panel of judges, where they defended their entries and demonstrated their contributions to the teaching profession.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa; Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, Thibaut Boidin; and the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic Education, Tolani Alli-Balogun, were among dignitaries at the event.

Sanwo-Olu, in a statement after the ceremony, commended Nigerian Breweries Plc for its sustained investment in education and recognition of outstanding teachers.

He described the competition as one of the credible platforms for celebrating excellence in teaching, adding that teachers deserved greater recognition and support because of their role in shaping children’s and the nation’s future.

“Our teachers deserve our recognition and support. Their work shapes the future of our children and the future of our nation. We must continue to invest in them and give them the support they need to do even more,” he said.

Adeyemo joins previous winners of the competition, including Rose Obi (Anambra, 2015); Imoh Essien (Akwa Ibom, 2016); Ariguzo Udochukwu (Delta, 2017); Olasunkanmi Opeifa (Abuja, 2018); Ezem (Abuja, 2019); Oluwabunmi Anani (Adamawa, 2020); Abanike Taiye (Delta, 2021); Ayiwulu Alaku (Plateau, 2022); Adeola Adefemi (Lagos, 2023); Esomnofu Chidiebube (Nasarawa, 2024); and Serah Yusuf (Abuja, 2025).