Still on Maltina Teachers Award: Diary of an Entrepreneur, By Tunji Suleiman

It was some minutes before 11:am on Tuesday, 9th of March 2017 when I finished the assignment that took me to Apapa. I was already on the Mainland when I received a call from the LPG prospect that our scheduled meeting had been put on hold. So, I had some spare time and I called Wale Abideen, Managing Editor of Security Monitor and Chief Executive officer, C.E.O of Investigation Media Limited, a media company I serve as an editorial Director. Night before that morning, Wale had told me he would be at Eko Hotel for the Flag-off ceremony of Maltina Best Teacher Award 2017. He invited me to join him as we both scheduled to inspect a project at Lekki later in the evening

The security guys on duty at the entrance of Grand Ballroom, venue of the event directed me to the registration desk and the Ushers, young beautiful girls asked whether Security Monitor was print or an online media and I responded, “Online”. I was filling in my details when a middle-aged man who appeared stressed out and tired showed up and shouted at me “We didn’t invite Security Monitor”. I stepped aside and called my contact. He came out and sorted the confusion, paving the way for my entry. I later identified the man as Segun Abifarin, a senior journalist and Head of Media of TPT International. He was tasked with the responsibility of inviting pressmen to the event. He was said be under pressure to coordinate the event to its success

What a highly pedagogical event organized by the Nigerian Brewery PLC, brewer of Maltina and other drinkable products. It x-rayed some of the challenges of teachers and education in Nigeria. An erudite professor did justice to topic that harps on the need for more funding for the education sector in the country. It had in attendance past winners of the award, representatives of government from ministry of education and other stakeholders in education sector. The program which was a flag off event that would crowned the 2017 Best Teacher put up panelists and speakers who debated issues on education.

The annual Maltina Best Teacher Award is in its 3rd edition. It rewards and encourages teachers who in spite of the “hostile teaching terrain and challenges”, continue to display exemplary teaching skills. In blatant departure to dance and drama projects which over the years dominated the Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS, of the foremost brewery in Nigeria, the Maltina Teachers Award is undoubtedly a unique and laudable initiative that has received tremendous recommendation
According to Kufre Ekenem, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of the Nigerian Brewery PLC, “The winner receives N1m every year for five years”,

During the Q&A session that followed, I had the opportunity to ask a panelist, deputy chairman of NUT to comment on worrying reports in social media of the purported introduction of a 8-Teachers per School policy been rooted by the Kwara State government. The NUT leader said he was yet to be briefed on the matter but opined on the impracticability of such a policy given the requirement of one teacher per subject in secondary schools. The anchor of the occasion thereafter clarified by sharing a reported disclaimer on the matter by the government of Kwara State.

My take-away was a feeling of appreciation to the Nigeria Breweries and Phillip Ehiwerei Foundation for creating an opportunity for teachers to start enjoying rewards of their labor here on earth as against the popular believe that teachers are to be rewarded in heaven.