The Federal Government has recognised 12 teachers nationwide with national honours, reaffirming its resolve to strengthen the education sector through better welfare packages, incentives and continuous professional development for educators.
The awards were presented on Tuesday during the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026 in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government would continue reforms focused on empowering teachers and restoring respect to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and based strictly on merit, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the nominations, 12 teachers — six from basic education and six from senior secondary education — were selected as recipients of the national awards.
Each awardee received a cash prize of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total reward to N50m.
Beyond the monetary prize, Taiwo is also set to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and a fully furnished two-bedroom apartment from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
In addition, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to reward each award winner with an extra N5m.
The minister described the recipients as shining examples of professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to students, noting that they represent the finest qualities of the teaching profession in Nigeria.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Addressing participants at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ Alausa said the recognition of the teachers aligns with the Federal Government’s wider education reform efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustained investment in teachers through structured training programmes, improved career progression and equitable reward systems, stressing that education remains critical to national growth.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he noted that “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the introduction of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development initiative aimed at updating teacher training and enhancing classroom performance.
While the programme will be accessible to both public and private school teachers, Alausa stated that performance-based incentives would be limited to public school teachers who successfully complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be linked to measurable outcomes.
He also highlighted related initiatives such as the Ignite digital platform to ease teachers’ workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the distribution of 60,000 tablets to teachers with free access to approved training platforms.
Further announcements included reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professional certification for in-service teachers.
To ensure long-term stability in the sector, Alausa said the government has introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards across the country.
Addressing award recipients and other educators at the summit, the minister described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to prioritise tangible improvements in classroom outcomes nationwide.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasised the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
She described the summit as timely and strategic, noting that the strength of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
According to her, the summit’s theme aligns closely with Nigeria’s current education priorities, as investing in teachers remains the cornerstone of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
She described the summit as a strategic national forum designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and promote practical reforms.
The minister added that the platform brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector stakeholders to improve teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a landmark moment in recognising teachers’ contributions to national development.
Nigeria’s education sector continues to face long-standing challenges, particularly in teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure, raising concerns about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools.
Industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further underscored the pressures confronting teachers across the country.