Mr. Imoh Essien, a teacher from Special Education Center for
Exceptional Children, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has emerged the 2016 Maltina Teacher
of the Year at the grand finale in Lagos on Thursday. For the feat,
Mr. Essien was rewarded with One Million Naira in addition to Five Hundred
Thousand Naira he received as state champion from Akwa Ibom. He will also get
One Million Naira every year for five years, a training program abroad and
a block of six classrooms built at his school.
Essien, a teacher of Computer, Basic Sciences and Physical
Education revealed that he draws his inspiration for teaching from his fun
loving personality through which he is able to help children with special
needs. He added that a strong emotional and mental stability is vital to
positively impact children with special needs, a job he has done for twelve
years.
Mohammed Binta Lawan, an English teacher, from Borno State,
who was the first runner-up last year, repeated the feat this year, while Ogwu
Patrick from Government Day Secondary School, Adankolo, Lokoja, Kogi State
emerged second runner-up.
While welcoming guests at the event, the Managing Director,
Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde explained that Nigerian
Breweries operates with a philosophy of “Winning with Nigeria” and has
championed causes that add value to the society since its inception in 1946.
“In 1994, we raised the profile of our support of the
education sector when we established the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei
Education Trust Fund to enable us contribute to the development of the sector.
Everywhere in the world, teachers play a vital role in sustainable national
development by training, coaching and modeling which is critical to determining
the quality of education.
He informed that the company recently handed over a twin
3-bedroom staff residence to Federal Government Girls College, Onitsha, in
honour of last year’s winner, Mrs. Roseline Obi.
He thanked the stakeholders in the education sector for
their support especially the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministries of
education in all the states across the country, the Nigerian Union of Teachers,
the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), the
Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria amongst several others.
Professor Anthony Anwukah, the Minister of State for
Education commended the initiative and described it as laudable. He advised
teachers to invest in themselves to raise their standard, adding that the
ministry looks forward to signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian
Breweries on the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative.
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who
was represented by Mrs. Ajoke Gbeleyi, Director of Private and Special
Education, Lagos State Ministry of Education, described teachers as the most
critical asset of the nation and thanked Nigerian Breweries for the initiative
she described as a big boost to teachers and the teaching profession.
Pat Utomi, the chairman of the Jury revealed that the job of
selecting the winners was challenging but enormously important because of the
role teachers play in moulding children.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year, established to recognize,
reward and celebrate exceptional teachers in Nigeria, is an initiative on the
platform of the Nigerian Breweries - Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. Teachers
and other stakeholders in the education sector have praised Nigerian Breweries
for the initiative
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