The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has awarded 23 teachers cut across the state’s LGAs for being exceptional, dedicated and hardworking in the discharge of their duties of impacting knowledge to learners.
In his address, the Executive Chairman of KADSUBEB, Mr Mubarak Muhammad, said the gathering was not just a ceremony but a defining moment for education in the state, stating that the event was the first of its kind to honour basic school teachers.
He added that in line with the SUSTAIN Agenda of Gov. Uba Sani, teachers were recognised as the resources that create, develop, and transform other resources, driving change and shaping the future of the children.
He added that teachers were at the forefront of improving learning outcomes and ensuring equal opportunities, stressing that their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement fuels societal change and human development.
He explained that the ‘Best Teacher Award’ was established to celebrate teachers with outstanding skills, leadership, and dedication to education, adding that the initiative would also motivate professionalism and character among learners.
Muhammad emphasised that while the saying goes “the teacher’s reward is in heaven,” Kaduna State believed that recognition should also begin on earth through the Best Teacher Award Programme, which has now become a permanent feature.
He explained that the nominees were selected through a transparent process coordinated by Local Government Education Authorities, judged on professional knowledge, teaching skills, and adherence to the Teacher Code of Conduct.
He also explained that 115 nominees from 23 local government areas underwent rigorous screening, interviews, and classroom observations, with independent evaluation of lesson delivery, time management, and classroom management.
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Muhammad added that the process involved respected institutions including Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM) and the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA).
It also involved the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the State School-Based Management Committees (SBMC), and the Ministry of Education, ensuring credibility and fairness in choosing the awardees.
The KADSUBEB boss emphasised that the outcome gave confidence that those honoured truly represented the best of Kaduna teachers, whose impact on pupils and society remained invaluable.
He said that all the nominees were celebrated as winners, commending their resilience and urging them not to relent, while congratulating the award recipients for inspiring future generations in the state.
Gov. Sani thanked KADSUBEB for organising the maiden edition of the Best Teacher Award Ceremony and stakeholders for their invaluable support to education in the state.
Sani, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sani Sambo, said the gathering was to celebrate excellence.
It was also to honour the men and women who were the heart and soul of the educational system, describing teachers as dedicated professionals shaping the lives of children daily.
Sani added that the initiative aligned with his administration’s Governance Agenda, which recognised the central place of education in development and empowerment.
He stressed that education remained the cornerstone of his transformation agenda.
Sani explained that since assuming office on May 29, 2023, his administration had been committed to creating accessible, inclusive, and high-quality learning environments, backing his commitment with increased budgetary allocation to education.
He emphasised that in 2024, 25 per cent of the state’s budget was allocated to education, while in 2025 the allocation was increased to 26.14 per cent to demonstrate genuine commitment to human capital development.
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He said that the administration had constructed 62 new secondary schools, 707 new classrooms, and renovated 2,326 classrooms across the state to expand access and improve infrastructure for effective teaching and learning.
Sani added that 30,742 two-seater pupil furniture and 3,704 teachers’ furniture were supplied, alongside a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees for state-owned tertiary institutions and improved state scholarships for learners.
He explained that courses for Tsangaya Teachers and Alarammas were introduced at Kaduna State University, while three of the biggest vocational training and skills institutes in Nigeria were commissioned to empower youths.
He emphasised that the investments underscored his belief that education was the most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and unlock the immense potential of the people of Kaduna State.
Sani added that teachers were the architects of the future, catalysts for societal transformation, and unsung heroes building a fairer, stronger, and more prosperous state through resilience and passion despite challenges.
He added that the Kaduna State Government was not just applauding teachers from the sidelines but implementing concrete policies to empower, motivate, and support them in fulfilling their critical responsibilities.
He congratulated the awardees on the well-deserved recognition and expressed hope that the awards would inspire other teachers across the state to recommit themselves to the pursuit of excellence in education.
On behalf of the awardees, Mrs Esther Affun of Chikun LGA, said the awards were a great honour and recognition of the sacrifices teachers make daily.
She said that the awards would further encourage them to rededicate themselves to shaping the lives of children in Kaduna State.
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Affun added that the transparent process that produced the winners gave every teacher confidence that hard work and commitment would always be recognised, regardless of location, background, or circumstance.
Affun added that the initiative would serve as a motivation for the teachers across the 23 local government areas to continue giving their best, knowing their contributions were valued and appreciated by the government and society.
She thanked the state government, partners, and stakeholders for supporting the programme, pledging to remain committed to excellence and to raise the standard of education in Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarship and Loans Board, Prof. Yahaya Ibrahim, also offered scholarship to all the awardees to further their education.Media monitoring tools
NAN also reports that the awardee from Chikun LGA of the state, Mrs Esther Affun, was specially awarded the overall best teacher amongst the 23 LGAs of the state.
The awardees were presented with cheques of N500,000 each and certificates.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), Save the Children International (SCI), Reaching Out-of-School Children Project (ROOSC), Nigerian Breweries, TRCN and Zenith Bank, among others, supported the initiative. (NAN)