Union Bank of Nigeria has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the country’s education sector by backing the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year grand finale and inaugurating a new digital learning centre in Abuja. The event, held on October 30, crowned Ms Busayo Victoria Adeyemo of Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos, as the overall winner of the 12th edition, selected from ten finalists among more than 2,000 nationwide entries.
Who won the competition?
Ms Busayo Victoria Adeyemo emerged victorious, receiving a cash prize of N10 million, a new Honda SUV, a place in an international capacity‑development programme, and a N30 million infrastructure grant for her school.
What are the prizes?
The winner’s package includes N10 million in cash, a Honda sport‑utility vehicle, participation in an overseas professional‑development course, and a N30 million project to upgrade her school’s facilities.
How Union Bank supports education
Union Bank’s Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Mrs Olufunmilola Aluko, praised the finalists and highlighted that the partnership with the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award is a cornerstone of the bank’s Edu360 programme under the UnionCares platform. She noted that over 300 teachers have been honoured through the initiative, which tackles various links in the education value chain by placing teachers at the heart of improvement efforts.
New digital learning centre opened
In October, Union Bank helped launch a Digital Learning Centre at Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE) in Sauka, Lugbe, Abuja. The facility, funded by the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund in honour of the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year, Ms Serah Yusuf, is equipped with computers, internet access, and tools for computer‑based examinations, including JAMB tests. Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and the school community attended the commissioning.
Impact and statements
Leading Union Bank’s delegation, Abuja 2 Area Business Executive Mr Francis Anaemene, said the project reflects the bank’s sustained backing of the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative. He described Ms Serah Yusuf’s 2025 win as evidence of WISE’s culture of excellence and called the new centre a fitting celebration of that achievement. Thibaut Boidin, Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund and Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, emphasized that teachers’ contributions often bear fruit years later.
Alignment with SDG4
Union Bank stated that its education interventions, anchored on Edu360 since 2018, aim to broaden access, raise quality, and optimise learning outcomes through cross‑sector partnerships. The bank’s support for teacher recognition and digital infrastructure directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
About Union Bank
Founded in 1917, Union Bank operates a nationwide network of more than 300 branches and digital channels, serving individual and corporate clients.
The combined efforts of Union Bank, Nigerian Breweries, and the Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund continue to reinforce the importance of teachers and modern learning tools in Nigeria’s educational landscape.