Union Bank of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to improving educational standards in the country through its continued sponsorship of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award, supporting efforts to recognise outstanding teachers and promote quality education.
The Bank sponsored the 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Award Grand Finale, held on Friday, 30 October 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The sponsorship marks Union Bank’s third consecutive year as a partner of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, now in its 12th edition. The event, organised by Nigerian Breweries Plc and the Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, brought together education stakeholders and industry leaders to celebrate excellence in the teaching profession.
Ms Busayo Victoria Adeyemo of Lanre Awolokun High School, Gbagada, Lagos, emerged as the overall winner from ten finalists selected from more than 2,000 entries submitted nationwide.
She received a cash prize of ₦10 million, a new Honda SUV, an international capacity development programme and a ₦30 million infrastructure project for her school.
Speaking on behalf of Union Bank at the ceremony, the Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Mrs Olufunmilola Aluko, congratulated the finalists and state champions, describing the competition as one of the private sector’s most consistent initiatives in recognising and supporting teachers in Nigeria.
She noted that more than 300 teachers had been recognised through the initiative to date.
According to her, the Bank’s partnership with the competition aligns with Edu360, its flagship education initiative under the UnionCares platform, which focuses on improving outcomes across the education value chain.
“Teachers remain at the centre of that work, because every other investment in education depends on the person who stands in front of the class each morning,” Aluko said.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund and Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Thibaut Boidin, also highlighted the lasting impact of teachers on society, noting that the seeds they plant in classrooms often take years to yield results.
Bank supports digital learning centre in Abuja
In a related development, Union Bank participated earlier in October in the commissioning of a Digital Learning Centre at Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE), Sauka, Lugbe, Abuja.
The facility was established by the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund in honour of Ms Serah Yusuf, the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year, who teaches at the school, with support from Union Bank through its Edu360 initiative.
The centre is equipped with computers, internet connectivity and facilities for computer-based examinations. It is designed to equip students with digital skills needed for higher education and prepare them for examinations conducted electronically, including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Teachers and members of the school community attended the commissioning.
Union Bank’s delegation was led by its Abuja 2 Area Business Executive, Mr Francis Anaemene, who described the project as a reflection of the Bank’s continued support for the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative.
“Union Bank is delighted to witness today’s fruition of our support for the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative for the third year running. The achievement of Ms Serah Yusuf, the Maltina Teacher of the Year 2025 national winner, is a testament to her school’s culture of excellence, and today’s commissioning is a fitting celebration of it,” Anaemene said.
Edu360 anchors Union Bank’s education initiative
Union Bank’s education intervention is anchored on Edu360, established in 2018 to strengthen the education sector through three key areas: improving access, enhancing quality and optimising learning outcomes.
The initiative also promotes partnerships across industries to address challenges within the education value chain.
The Bank’s support for the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award and the Digital Learning Centre aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The Bank said its interventions form part of its broader commitment to social impact and sustainable development in the communities it serves.
About Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
Established in 1917, Union Bank of Nigeria is a financial services provider operating across the Nigerian banking sector under its “Simpler, Smarter Banking” philosophy.
The Bank has a nationwide network of more than 300 branches and offers financial services to individual and corporate customers, including current and savings accounts, deposits, funds transfers, foreign currency domiciliation, loans, overdrafts, equipment leasing and trade finance.
It also provides electronic banking services through digital platforms, mobile banking, debit cards, automated teller machines and point-of-sale systems.
Further information is available at www.unionbankng.com.
