…Commend Nigerian Breweries Contributions To Quality Education Growth
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has reiterated that one cardinal focus of the present administration is to revitalise the educational sector which is one key economic growth drivers in every thriving economies around the globe.
Prof. Osinbajo said to this end, the government will give prime attention to the three tiers of education (primary, secondary and tertiary), to ensure even development to the sector.
Speaking at the 2019 Martina Teachers of the Year award night on Friday in Lagos, the Vice President who was ably represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba noted that the private sector will however be needed to partner with the government to achieve these lofty goals.
Prof. Osinbajo who singled out the Nigerian Breweries for commendation, said as a conglomerate the company has been championing the sustainability of quality education in the domestic economy, explaining that Nigerian Breweries has not defaulted in its responsibilities based on government policy for companies to contribute 1% of their earnings towards the development of the educational sector.
He said education as a beacon of hope for development, must be adequately funded to allow it contribute its quotas to the growth and development of the economy, while freeing the people from the pangs of poverty.
The managing director and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Jordi Borrut Bel while commending the awardees, said the Martina Teacher of the Year award was aimed to encourage, motivate and celebrate excellence in the educational sector.
He said the award which is part of the company’s commitment to its Corporate Philosophy of “winning with Nigeria” has continued to take an increasingly active path in supporting education amongst the company’s other CRS focused area.
“As testament to this, we set up the Nigerian Breweries Felix Ohiwere Education Trust Fund in 1994 with a start-up capital of 100 million naira to enable us sustained quality education through structured intervention in the sector.
“The fund has foot prints across the state geographical zones in Nigeria at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. Through the fund, we have constructed and furnished over 400 classrooms, sanitary facilities and libraries in 74 communities across the country. We have also granted scholarship to deserving students in tertiary institution”, he added.
Mr. Borrut who disclosed that Maltina Teacher of the Year was introduced in 2015 to honour and reward outstanding teachers in Nigeria, has so far recognised a total of 95 teachers since inception.
The Corporate Affairs Director NB, Sade Morgan while outlining how the teachers were selected for the award at the grand finale, noted that the 2019 MTOTY was a keenly contested national competition among secondary school teachers in Nigeria. “The competition adopts a rigorous multi-stage screening process by a distinguished and independent jury to produce the winners.
According to her, “for the first time since we inaugurated the initiative, we recorded an unprecedented interest by teachers across the country to compete for the top prize. At the end of the call for entries, which lasted from May to July, we received a total of 1310 entries from all 36 states and Abuja. That number is a quantum leap of 104 per cent increase over 641 entries we received in the last entries”, she added.
Photo Caption: From Left–Imoh Enoh Essien, 2016 winner, Maltina Teacher of the Year; Ariguzo Udochukwu, 2017 winner, Maltina Teacher of the Year; Opeifa Olasukomi, 2018 winner, Maltina Teacher of the Year; Nkem Obi, 2015 winner, Maltina Teacher of the Year