Applications have officially opened for the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, marking the commencement of the 12th edition of one of Nigeria’s most prominent education-focused reward programmes. The initiative, driven by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, invites eligible secondary school teachers nationwide to submit entries between June 3 and August 7, 2026, as part of efforts to spotlight excellence in classroom instruction and national development.
The annual competition is structured to identify and reward teachers who demonstrate exceptional dedication, innovation and impact in shaping students and strengthening Nigeria’s education system. Organisers say the programme continues to expand its scope and partnerships, with new corporate collaborators expressing interest in supporting the initiative’s long-term vision of improving teaching standards across the country.
The 2026 edition offers a total reward package that places the competition among the most lucrative teacher recognition platforms in Nigeria. The overall winner will receive ₦10 million, a brand-new Honda HR-V, international capacity development training and a year’s supply of Maltina, while the winning teacher’s school will benefit from an infrastructure project valued at ₦30 million, according to details released at the Lagos flag-off ceremony. First and second runners-up will receive ₦5 million and ₦3 million respectively, while state-level winners will each earn ₦1 million and recognition plaques, Brandspur Brand News reports.
Education stakeholders at the event underscored the growing importance of private-sector interventions in addressing long-standing challenges within Nigeria’s public education system. Representatives from regulatory bodies and teachers’ unions highlighted the need for sustained investment in infrastructure, teacher welfare and professional development to improve learning outcomes nationwide.
Since its establishment in 2015, the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition has become a flagship corporate social investment platform, funded through the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, which was created in 1994 to support educational advancement in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on quality education.
Interested teachers can complete their applications through the competition’s dedicated online portal or submit scanned application forms via the official email channel provided by the organisers.
