Kaduna State Government has honoured 23 of the 115 outstanding teachers across its 23 local government areas with ₦500,000 cash prizes and certificates of excellence at the maiden Best Teacher Award Ceremony.
The overall best teacher, Esther Affun from Chikun Local Government Area, received an additional ₦500,000 and a special scholarship to upgrade her HND to B.Ed, with opportunities to pursue MSc and PhD degrees, courtesy of the state government.
The event, held on Saturday in Kaduna to commemorate the 2025 World Teachers’ Day, was organised with the support of UNICEF and other education partners. It aimed at motivating teachers and celebrating excellence in the teaching profession.
Governor Uba Sani, represented at the event, described teachers as the “architects of our future,” reaffirming his administration’s commitment to investing in quality education. He disclosed that 26.14 per cent of the 2025 state budget was allocated to the education sector, making it one of the highest in the country.
In a further show of commitment, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna Scholarship and Loans Board, Professor Yahaya Ibrahim, announced that all 115 awardees would benefit from soft loans under the Uba Sani Special Scholarship International Programme, with disbursement set to begin on Monday.
Acting Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed, described the awards as a “defining moment for education in Kaduna,” noting that the winners emerged through a rigorous process involving TRCN, KADBEAM, KSSQAA, NUT, SBMC, and the Ministry of Education.
He appreciated the support of development and corporate partners including UNICEF, Save the Children, PLANE, Zenith Bank, Nigerian Breweries, and ROOSC, saying their collaboration was vital to sustaining teacher motivation and learning outcomes.
Representing the Emir of Zazzau, the District Head of Kawo, Alhaji Jibril Muhammad Magaji, hailed teachers as the “backbone of society,” stressing that no profession exists without them. He commended the state government for setting a national example in teacher recognition.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Save the Children Nigeria’s Country Director, Mr. Duncan Harvey, Emmanuel Mbursa, Project Director of the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, commended the initiative and pledged continued support for teacher development and capacity building.
Diana Agabi, PLANE State Team Lead, linked the ceremony to the 2025 World Teachers’ Day theme, “Recasting Teachers as a Collaborative Profession,” urging educators to see the honour as a call to deepen professionalism, collaboration, and innovation. The Kaduna Best Teacher Award, she noted, will now become an annual event to reward excellence and inspire greater impact in classrooms across the state.
By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna @TheNation
