- 11 Others get N25m each
- Teachers are ‘quiet architects of great nations’ – Remi Tinubu
BY EDMOND ODOK – The Federal Government has splashed a whopping N50 million, a brand-new car, and a fully furnished two-bedroom house on a primary school teacher, Solanke Francis Taiwo, who emerged as the Overall Best Teacher in Nigeria for 2025.
Taiwo, from Ogun state, took centre stage in Abuja on Tuesday as he earned national recognition and life-changing rewards for his years of dedicated classroom service delivery.
Similarly, eleven other outstanding teachers, selected from a pool of nominees drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, also received N25 million each.
The reward scheme, totalling N325 million, was introduced by the government to honour teachers for their dedication, innovation and impact on learning outcomes across the country.
At the Nigerian Teachers’ Summit where the awards were presented in Abuja on Tuesday, Education leaders reaffirm commitments to teacher welfare, professional development, and reforms tied to classroom performance
Solanke, who is a teacher at Ansar-ud-Deen Main School 1, Kemta-Ilawo, in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, was joined by 11 other awardees at the Summit to savour the life-impacting, and tangible benefits of diligent service in Nigeria’s education sector.
On the awardees’ list are: Mrs David Kachollom Joseph of GSS Nyango-Gyel, Plateau State; Malam Musa Abubakar Garba of GSS Tudun Wada, Kaduna State; Ifetike Hope Chekwube of Government Technical College, Onitsha, Anambra State; Obafemi Peter Lawal of Oriwa Senior Model College, Ikorodu, Lagos State; Johanna Gilando and Bashar Hantsi of Argungu Emirate Model Primary School, Kebbi State.
Other beneficiaries include Blessing Ikong, Chinwe Ituma, Gombo Lawan, Khadijat Galadima and Okide Ochike, whose selection followed a competitive screening in a process designed to spotlight excellence at both basic and senior secondary school levels.
Remi Tinubu Salutes Teachers
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who spoke at the event, described teachers as the “quiet architects of great nations,” stressing that national development begins with quality teaching and effective learning.
While reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to investing in teacher welfare, professional development and skills acquisition, she said the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda aims to revolutionize Nigerian education through increased access, quality, and digital innovation as well as improved welfare packages for all stakeholders.
Education Minister Alausa Unveils EduRevamp
In his remarks the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, launched the federal government’s EduRevamp Portal, a national platform designed to deliver structured, performance-driven, continuous professional development for teachers in public and private schools, shifting the focus to competence, accountability, and measurable classroom impact.
He described the Portal’s unveiling as part of the reforms in the education sector, saying the summit highlighted a “simple but powerful truth” that no nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
The Minister emphasized that empowering educators remains central to Nigeria’s education reform agenda under the current administration.
Also speaking at the occasion, President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Titus Amba, warned that education reforms would remain fragile unless chronic underfunding and poor teacher welfare are addressed.
According to him: “Inadequate funding is the major weakness undermining professionalism in the teaching profession” nationwide.
