If competence were measured by size, then Olasunkanmi Samuel Opeifa would not have been crowned the 2018 Maltina Teacher of the Year (MTOY) last Thursday. Neither would Olalekan Adeeko and Temitope Popoola have been named the first and second runners up at the event held at the Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos Island.
The three teachers would easily pass for secondary school pupils if they wear school uniform. But their brilliance, effectiveness and commitment to the teaching profession shone through and showed that their stature did not affect their productivity.
It is the first in the history of the competition started in 2015 that the top three of 26 finalists would be all men.
Opeifa an English teacher, was presented with the star prize of N5 million to be spread across five years – plus N500,000 for being shortlisted as the best teacher in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
His school, Government Day Secondary School, Karu, Abuja, would get a block of classrooms courtesy of Nigerian Breweries plc, sponsors of the competition.
Adeeko a Computer studies teacher from Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State got N1 million; while Popoola, who teaches Physics at the Deeper Life High School, Akure, Ondo State got N750,000. Both also got N500,000 each for emerging the best in their states.
Opeifa’s journey to the classroom was filled with doubts because of his diminutive statue. The graduate of English Education from Lagos State University (LASU) said his father initially questioned his choice of profession but later supported him. He also said a principal asked how he would enforce discipline in the classroom.
“My father did not want me to go to the university. He said that I should go and learn how to sell spare parts in Port Harcourt. He asked how I can be a teacher with my size. But he changed and encouraged me,” he said.
He thanked Nigerian Breweries for the prize which is funded by the Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund.
“This is a step forward in education. I want to dedicate this award to my wife. We are doing a lot in this country to produce children despite the harsh working conditions,” said the 32-year old indigene of Ogun State.
Twenty-three other finalists from Ekiti, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Lagos, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Abia, Edo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom,a Plateau, Taraba and others were also honoured at the event. They got N500,000 each.
Chairman of the Panel of Judges, Prof Thomas Ofuya said the judges were satisfied with the quality of winners and their contribution to the Nigerian education system.
“Teachers are finally being rewarded and we are happy to be witness to it. I am impressed with the extent Nigerian Breweries has gone in improving education. Teachers influence almost every area of our society,” he said.
In his speech, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel said the decision to start the teachers’ award in 2015was taken when the firm noticed support for teachers was missing from its Corporate Social Responsibility projects.
Borrut Bel said NB Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund had over the years impacted over 25,000 students with over 400 classrooms, 30 libraries and laboratories built in over 40 communities across Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwukah praised NB Plc for its huge investment in education.
Diggnitaries at the event include Mrs. Yetunde Odetayi, Permanent Secretary, in the office of the Deputy Governor of Lagos, Boboye Oyeyemi, Corp Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Desmond Elliot, member, Lagos State House of Assembly among others.
Since inception, the Maltina Teacher of the Year has produced four grand winners: Rose Nkemdilim Obi from Anambra State (2015), Imoh Essien from Akwa Ibom State (2016) and Felix Ariguzo from Delta State (2017) and the current champion.
