In a move aimed at boosting morale within the education sector, the Federal Government has presented a N50 million reward to Nigeria’s overall best teacher, Taiwo Solanke, in recognition of outstanding dedication and innovation in the classroom.
The announcement was made by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026 held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
The summit, themed “Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,” focused on reforms designed to reposition teaching as a cornerstone of national development.
According to the First Lady, the award is part of broader efforts to restore dignity, excellence and public respect to the teaching profession.
She described teachers as silent nation builders whose commitment shapes the future, stressing that meaningful national progress depends largely on how well educators are motivated and supported.
Drawing from her experience as a former classroom teacher, Tinubu said effective education can only be achieved when teachers are adequately equipped, encouraged and empowered.
She reaffirmed that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education remains a critical pillar of development, with sustained investment in teachers’ welfare, professional growth and modern skills training.
The First Lady also commended the Federal Ministry of Education for unveiling the EduRevamp Portal, noting that it would strengthen continuous professional development and improve learning outcomes nationwide.
She urged teachers across the country to remain committed to excellence, innovation and integrity as they prepare future leaders.
Earlier, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed that beyond the overall best teacher award, outstanding teachers from both basic and secondary education levels were also recognised.
He said 12 exceptional teachers selected from the six geopolitical zones would each receive a cash award of N25 million.
Alausa explained that all award recipients emerged through a transparent and merit-based process involving nominations from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He emphasised that teachers form the backbone of education reform, noting that no meaningful transformation could occur without empowered and motivated educators.
The minister announced the formal launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated continuous professional development programme designed to shift teacher training from attendance-based participation to performance-driven outcomes.
He added that while EduRevamp is open to all teachers, incentive-based rewards would focus on public school educators.
Alausa said complementary initiatives under the programme include the Ignite digital learning platform, the Diaspora Bridge for STEMM education, and the distribution of 60,000 tablets to teachers nationwide.
He also revealed that the ministry has upgraded the digital platform of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria and expanded the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme across the country.
Teachers honoured under the basic education category include Blessing Ikong, Chinwe Ituma, Gombo Lawan, Taiwo Solanke, Khadijat Galadima and Okide Ochike, while the secondary education category features Johanna Gilando, David Joseph, Musa Haruba, Hope Ifetike, Lawal Obafemi and Bashir Hantsi.
The education minister urged stakeholders to focus on measurable classroom impact, stressing that the success of the reforms would ultimately be judged by improved learning outcomes and transformed lives of Nigerian students.