Akakan Umoh
Lagos and Akwa Ibom State teachers emerged as the first and second runners-up of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition.
Adeyemo Busayo of Lanre Awolokun High School, Lagos was the winner, securing a N10 million cash prize and a brand-new Honda HR-V at the grand finale of the competition was held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, on Friday night, 30 October.
Similarly, an Akwa Ibom a public school teacher emerged second Runner-Up at the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition.
Mr. Ephraim Jacob Inyangudo from Comprehensive Secondary School, Ediene, Abak Local Government Area joined 2,000 teachers across the nation who applied and contested, winning a cash prize of ₦3,000,000.
Mr. Inyangudo is a highly decorated educator with more than 20 international, regional and national awards, including the 2022 Global Teacher Award by the Government of the United States of America.
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.
Lagos winner
Adeyemo succeeds 31-year-old Serah Yusuf of Wisdom International School of Excellence, Abuja, who won the 2025 edition.
Prof. Ubong Essien Umoh, Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Education lauded Akwa Ibom winner for his grit, dedication and commitment to shaping the next generation were on full display, noting that victory reflects the true Akwa Ibom spirit and Governor Umo Eno’s sustainable investment in teachers’ welfare.
‘‘His achievement reflects what is possible when passion meets purpose. It also reflects Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, which places education, and the welfare of our teachers, at the heart of our State’s development. Our teachers are nation-builders, and we will continue to identify, support and celebrate them,” he stated.
The Commissioner congratulated Teacher Ephraim, saying ‘‘You have made Akwa Ibom State, and indeed all of us, immensely proud.
He also thanked Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, organisers of the Maltina Teacher of the Year, and to partners Union Bank, Air Peace, Eko Hotels & Suites and Honda Manufacturing Nigeria Limited, for championing excellence in teaching.
