Lagos Teacher Wins Maltina Award, Gets N10m, SUV
Adeyemo Busayo of Lanre Awolokun High School also secured a N30m school development package, a year’s supply of Maltina and international training
A Lagos State teacher, Adeyemo Busayo of Lanre Awolokun High School, has emerged as the winner of the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition, receiving a N10m cash prize and a brand-new Honda HR-V.
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Adeyemo was announced as the overall winner at the grand finale held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, on Friday night.
In addition to the cash prize and vehicle, she secured a N30m infrastructure development package for her school, a one-year supply of Maltina and an opportunity to participate in an international capacity-building training programme.
The inclusion of a brand-new Honda HR-V marks the first time the competition has offered a car as part of its overall winner’s prize package.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year competition, which celebrates outstanding contributions to education, 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.
Speaking after her emergence, Adeyemo expressed gratitude for the recognition and the opportunity to make a difference through teaching.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities to teach, inspire, and make a difference in the lives of learners,” she said.
Adeyemo succeeds 31-year-old Serah Yusuf of Wisdom International School of Excellence, Abuja, who won the 2025 edition.
Yusuf Cariyat, also of Wisdom International School of Excellence, emerged as the first runner-up and received N5m, while Ephraim Jacob Inyangudo of Comprehensive Secondary School, Akwa Ibom State, finished third with a N3m prize.
Reacting to her achievement, Cariyat expressed gratitude to God, describing the recognition as an experience beyond what she had imagined.
She dedicated the award to her students, noting that their curiosity, projects and breakthroughs continued to inspire her commitment to the teaching profession.
She also extended the recognition to teachers across Nigeria, urging them to maintain high standards and demonstrate the impact of their work in classrooms and communities.
The 2026 competition attracted 2,243 valid entries from teachers across the country following the opening of submissions on August 7.
Ten finalists emerged as state champions and proceeded through online assessments and physical screening before a panel of judges, where they defended their entries and demonstrated their contributions to education.
The other finalists included Egwu Ngozi of Ibeku High School, Abia 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; Omotayo Akintunde of Ilugun High School Junior, Abeokuta, Ogun State; and Okegbemi Olukemi of Ilado/Sagbo Community Grammar School, Iseyin, Oyo State.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund Thibaut Boidin, and Lagos State Commissioner for Basic Education Tolani Alli-Balogun were among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.
In a statement following the event, Sanwo-Olu commended Nigerian Breweries Plc for its continued investment in education and efforts to recognise exceptional teachers.
He described the competition as a credible platform for celebrating excellence in teaching, stressing that educators deserved greater recognition and support because of their role in shaping the future of children and the country.
“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,” the governor said.
Adeyemo joins previous winners of the competition, which began in 2015, including Rose Obi, Imoh Essien, Ariguzo Udochukwu, Olasunkanmi Opeifa, Ezem, Oluwabunmi Anani, Abanike Taiye, Ayiwulu Alaku, Adeola Adefemi, Esomnofu Chidiebube and Serah Yusuf.
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Her victory places her among a growing group of educators recognised for their contributions to teaching and the development of learners across Nigeria.
