By DAYO ADESULU
A teacher from Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos State, Adeyemo Busayo Victoria, has emerged as the overall winner of the 12th edition of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, receiving a ₦10 million cash prize, a brand-new Honda HR-V, a three-bedroom flat and other rewards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to education.
A Lagos-based secondary school teacher, Adeyemo Busayo Victoria, has emerged as Nigeria’s 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year, bringing national recognition to Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, where she teaches.
Victoria was announced as the overall winner at the grand finale of the 12th edition of the prestigious Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition held on October 30, 2026.
Her emergence marks another milestone in the annual initiative, which celebrates exceptional teachers, recognises innovation in the classroom and highlights the important role educators play in shaping the nation’s future.
Beyond the national recognition, Victoria received an impressive reward package comprising cash, a brand-new vehicle, residential accommodation, international professional development opportunities and a major infrastructure intervention for her school.
Adeyemo Victoria’s Reward Package
The 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year winner received several prizes designed to recognise her professional excellence and support her personal and career development.
The grand prize package includes:
- ₦10 million cash prize: A financial reward recognising her outstanding performance and contribution to education.
- Brand-new Honda HR-V: A new Honda HR-V presented as part of the grand prize.
- Three-bedroom flat: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced an additional reward of a three-bedroom flat for the winner.
- Overseas capacity-development training: An opportunity to participate in international professional development training to strengthen her teaching skills and educational expertise.
- One-year supply of Maltina: A year’s supply of the popular malt drink.
- ₦30 million school infrastructure project: Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, will benefit from an infrastructure project valued at ₦30 million.
The package combines personal rewards with an institutional intervention, ensuring that Victoria’s achievement also benefits the school and its students.
Lagos Celebrates National Teaching Honour
Victoria’s emergence as the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year represents a significant achievement for Lagos State’s education sector.
Her victory also places the spotlight on teachers working in public secondary schools, whose contributions often extend beyond classroom instruction.
Teachers play critical roles in mentoring students, identifying individual learning needs, encouraging academic excellence and preparing young people for the responsibilities of adulthood.
Therefore, recognising outstanding educators provides an opportunity to celebrate the people behind students’ academic achievements and personal development.
The additional three-bedroom flat announced by Governor Sanwo-Olu further highlights the Lagos State Government’s recognition of the importance of rewarding excellence in the teaching profession.
2,243 Teachers Participated in the 2026 Competition
The 2026 edition attracted significant participation from teachers across Nigeria.
According to reports on the competition, organisers received 2,243 valid entries from educators nationwide.
Following the initial assessment, 213 teachers advanced to the second stage of the selection process.
The organisers subsequently shortlisted 10 outstanding teachers for the final stage, where they underwent further assessments.
Victoria emerged from this competitive process to claim the national award.
Other finalists represented different states and educational institutions across the country, demonstrating the nationwide reach of the competition.
The competition’s selection process seeks to identify educators whose professional commitment, teaching methods and contributions to students distinguish them within the education sector.
About the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition
The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition is organised by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.
The initiative forms part of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s longstanding commitment to supporting education and recognising teachers who demonstrate excellence in their profession.
Since its establishment, the competition has provided a platform for identifying exceptional secondary school teachers across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
It also encourages professional development, innovation and improved teaching standards.
For the 2026 edition, the organisers announced a substantial increase in the grand prize package with the inclusion of a brand-new Honda HR-V.
Before the grand finale, Nigerian Breweries had announced that the overall winner would receive ₦10 million, overseas capacity-development training, a one-year supply of Maltina and a ₦30 million infrastructure project for the winning school.
Why This Matters
Victoria’s achievement goes beyond winning a national award.
At a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with challenges in its education system, recognising outstanding teachers sends an important message about the value of investing in educators.
Teachers remain central to the development of every society. They prepare future doctors, engineers, scientists, journalists, entrepreneurs and public administrators.
However, the profession requires more than academic qualifications. It demands patience, creativity, commitment and the ability to inspire students to achieve their potential.
The ₦30 million infrastructure intervention for Lanre Awolokun High School is particularly significant because it extends the benefits of the award beyond the individual winner.
With improved school infrastructure, students and other teachers could also benefit from the recognition.
Furthermore, the international training opportunity could expose Victoria to new teaching approaches and professional experiences that may strengthen her contribution to education.
Conclusion
Adeyemo Busayo Victoria’s emergence as the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year is a moment of celebration for Lanre Awolokun High School, Lagos State and Nigeria’s teaching community.
Her reward package, particularly the ₦10 million cash prize, Honda HR-V, three-bedroom flat and ₦30 million school infrastructure project, reflects the growing importance of recognising and rewarding excellence in education.
As Nigeria celebrates Victoria’s achievement, the award also raises an important question: How much more could the nation’s education system achieve if outstanding teachers received greater recognition, support and investment?
Congratulations to Adeyemo Busayo Victoria!
Congratulations to her!
#MaltinaTeacherOfTheYear #AdeyemoBusayoVictoria #LagosEducation
