The Federal Government has honoured 12 outstanding teachers from across Nigeria with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives and continuous professional development.
The awards were presented on Tuesday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026 in Abuja. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both basic and senior secondary school levels. From the nominations, 12 teachers—six from basic education and six from senior secondary education—emerged as national award recipients.
Each awardee received a cash prize of N25 million. The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West, received an additional N25 million, bringing his total reward to N50 million. He is also to receive a brand new car from Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, and a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment from Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
In addition, Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, pledged to support each award recipient with an extra N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in Nigeria.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected and valued profession in Nigeria,” Alausa said.
The summit, themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability’, aligns with the Federal Government’s broader education reform agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers,” the minister stated, adding that no reform can succeed without empowered, motivated and supported teachers.
As part of ongoing reforms, Alausa announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes. While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, performance-based incentives will apply to public school teachers who complete certified training.
He also highlighted other initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teachers’ workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the distribution of 60,000 tablets to teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
Further reforms include upgrades to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers. The minister also announced the introduction of a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, described the summit as timely and strategic, stressing that the quality of any education system depends on the motivation, empowerment and competence of its teachers.
“Empowering teachers is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built,” she said, noting that when teachers are supported and valued, learning outcomes improve and national development is accelerated.
Also speaking, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in recognising the critical role of teachers in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector continues to face challenges related to teacher welfare, access to professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure, raising concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in public schools. The summit is expected to help chart a path toward addressing these issues through coordinated reforms and sustained investment in teachers.
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