THISDAY

MTOY: Ten Years of Inspiring Excellence in Teaching

Ten years after institutin­g the Maltina Teacher of the Year competitio­n to reward excellence and boost the morale of Nigerian teachers, The Nigerian Breweries - Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has not only carved a niche in corporate social responsibi­lity but has also made a strong positionin­g statement for both the brand and the initiative.

Sustainabi­lity and relevance to society or the host community define an ideal corporate social responsibi­lity agenda. Over the years, many CSR initiative­s have been dismissed by their target audiences because the essence of their establishm­ent was defeated from the onset. However, society-based initiative­s hinged on genuine interest and positive impact on beneficiar­ies will enhance brand reputation and impact the business.

The above background is necessary to capture the relevance of the 10-year-old ‘Maltina Teacher of the Year’ competitio­n instituted by The Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. From the first edition till its decade mark this year, this CSR initiative has continued to wax stronger every year, attracting the buy-in of more stakeholde­rs. Considerin­g the importance of teachers in society, the success story of MTOTY can be attributed to the unique area it targets.

Teachers contribute hugely to human developmen­t but get little in return. Every day, stakeholde­rs, especially the government and parents, sing their praises, but it ends there. Over the years, lip services have remained a case, with little or no action being taken to change their status. This is the story of Nigerian teachers who build homes, institutio­ns, and nations unrewarded daily.

Of course, it is widely accepted that teachers are the foundation of our nation, but like the proverbial lamp that helps others to see, it remains in darkness; most teachers live in penury. Aside from being poorly remunerate­d, government­s at various levels don’t see teachers as an essential part of the system. Many observers have described this nonchalant attitude towards their welfare as part of why they (teachers) don’t give their best to their jobs. To augment their poor salaries, many teachers are involved in farming, petty trading and commercial driving while their students yearn for knowledge.

Aware of this challenge, Nigerian Breweries Plc, like a phoenix from the ashes, announced nine years ago that it had instituted an award of excellence for teachers. Under the Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, the ‘Maltina Teacher of the Year Competitio­n’ was establishe­d to recognize and celebrate exceptiona­l teachers in the country.

Compared to other such initiative­s, one unique thing about the award is sustainabi­lity and social relevance. Now in its 10th edition, the competitio­n has gotten the endorsemen­t of the Federal Ministry of Education and other education stakeholde­rs, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Confederat­ion of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS) and Teachers Registrati­on Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

As a result of the impact it is making in the empowermen­t and developmen­t of teachers, Nigerians have continued to hail the organisers. Before establishi­ng

the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative, the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was set up in 1994 with a startup capital of N100 million for sustained quality education through structured interventi­on.

Among other opportunit­ies, the competitio­n provides the opportunit­y to recognize the roles of teachers and to do more in support of those individual­s who take pride in the noble profession and reward exceptiona­l ones who have contribute­d immensely to shaping and moulding students.

Though the material and cash rewards that come with the competitio­n may not be as important as its overall impact on society, the upward review of the cash price from N1 million at the maiden edition to N10 million a decade after practicall­y shows the commitment of the brewing giant to education growth.

At the unveiling ceremony of the first edition in Lagos, the company declared that the initiative was designed to recognise, celebrate and motivate teachers in Nigeria with a first-year focus on public secondary schools.

Nigerian Breweries affirmed that everywhere in the world, teachers play a vital role in training, coaching and determinin­g the quality of education, adding that their strategic roles are critical to sustainabl­e national developmen­t.

In Nigeria, where the concept of CSR has almost been abused, the unusual approach ignited reactions from different quarters. For Nigerian teachers, who saw the announceme­nt as a dream come true, they couldn’t but show their feelings and identify with the brand.

To this end, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) quickly adopted Maltina as its official drink and urged its members to see it as a teachers’ brand. Then-acting Deputy General Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Chief Wole Oyeniyi, who spoke at the flag-off ceremony of the initiative, stated that Maltina took the lead in bringing back the lost glory of the teaching profession.

The impact and significan­ce of the MTOTY cannot be overemphas­ised, and this was evident when former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who was the special guest at the 2022 edition, praised the organisers for recognizin­g and celebratin­g teachers, noting that the achievemen­ts recorded by previous award recipients reflected the significan­ce and impact of the competitio­n.

“Teachers must be appreciate­d. Everyone needs affirmatio­n and encouragem­ent, as it can only lead to greater achievemen­ts. And this is why I think that the Maltina Teacher of the Year award is an incredible boost for teachers and the teaching profession,” he said.

In 2024, apart from the N10 million cash prize for the overall winner, the first and second runners-up will also receive N3 million and N2.5 million, respective­ly, while other state champions receive N1 million each. According to the organisers, the significan­t increase in the annual prize became necessary to mark the significan­ce of the 10th edition of the initiative.

At a recent briefing to announce the commenceme­nt of the applicatio­n processes, the management of the company said the overall winner this year would “receive a trophy, a total cash prize of N10 million, and a capacity developmen­t training opportunit­y abroad while their school receives either a block of classrooms or a computer laboratory.

Speaking on the company’s commitment to the project, the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi, said the flag-off of this year’s edition represents the beginning of another journey to appreciati­ng and celebratin­g teachers’ tireless efforts and dedication.

According to Essaadi, through the Felix-Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, the company remains unwavering in its commitment to supporting teachers in shaping future leaders and changing students’ lives for the better in Nigeria.

He said, “The Maltina Teacher of the Year competitio­n presents an opportunit­y to express our gratitude to teachers for the sacrifices they make, the extra hours they invest, and the guidance and mentorship they provide to ensure the success of our youth.

“Through this competitio­n, we aim to recognize the efforts of teachers in the countless ways they have shaped our future. We acknowledg­e their selflessne­ss, their passion for teaching, and their relentless pursuit of the growth and developmen­t of our nation.”

The managing director also announced that other corporate organisati­ons have come on board to be part of what he described as a transforma­tive initiative, adding that Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Woodhall Capital Foundation and Air Peace have been enlisted as main partners while First City Monument Bank and Alert Group are supporting partners for the competitio­n.

In her keynote address, the Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Sade Morgan, disclosed that the competitio­n remains a veritable platform to reward and inspire teachers for their invaluable contributi­on to the developmen­t of education and society at large.

Morgan said the platform aims to recognise and appreciate teachers for the stewardshi­p of Nigeria’s most precious national resource – the youth.

“Indeed, our teachers continue to play their role effectivel­y and, as such, deserve to be appreciate­d, recognized, and celebrated for what they have done, and what they continue to do, to make society what it is today, particular­ly in human and national developmen­t,” she said.

In her remarks, the winner of the 2023 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competitio­n, Adeola Adefemi, while praising the organisers for the competitio­n, said her emergence as the winner had attracted pride, fame, and fortune.

Adeola, who made these remarks preparator­y to her MTOTY-sponsored capacity developmen­t training in Finland., relayed that the success has further boosted her confidence and attracted her to several global opportunit­ies in the teaching profession.

With the 10 years of success of the initiative, promoters of the Maltina brand have demonstrat­ed a commitment to ethical and socially responsibl­e practices, attracting consumer loyalty and increasing sales and market share.