Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
It was a day of pride, gratitude, and celebration in Kaduna on Saturday as the state government rolled out a landmark initiative to honour 23 outstanding teachers with cash prizes, scholarships, and public recognition — setting a new gold standard for teacher appreciation in Nigeria.
At the heart of the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration was the inaugural Kaduna Best Teacher Award Ceremony, jointly organised by the state government, UNICEF, and a coalition of corporate and development partners. The event was more than a ceremony — it was a loud statement that Kaduna values its teachers and is ready to invest in their growth.
From the 23 local government areas of the state, one teacher from each LGA emerged as a winner, each walking away with ₦500,000 and a certificate of excellence. But the day truly belonged to Mrs. Esther Affun from Chikun Local Government Area, who was crowned the Overall Best Teacher in Kaduna State.
For Mrs. Affun, it was not just a prize but a life-changing moment. In addition to her ₦500,000 reward, she received an extra ₦500,000 bonus and a fully funded scholarship from the government to pursue higher academic qualifications — from an HND to a Bachelor’s degree, and onward to a Master’s and PhD.
Governor Uba Sani, who was represented at the event, described teachers as the “architects of our future,” reaffirming that his administration’s vision for education goes beyond rhetoric. He noted that Kaduna had allocated 26.14% of its 2025 budget to education — one of the highest in the country — signalling a deep commitment to strengthening learning outcomes and teacher welfare.
“This is not just an investment in teachers,” the governor’s representative said, “it’s an investment in the future of our children and the destiny of our state.”
In a further boost to the morale of educators, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna Scholarship and Loans Board, Professor Yahaya Ibrahim, announced that all 115 shortlisted nominees for the award would benefit from the Uba Sani Special Scholarship International Programme. Each nominee, he said, would be eligible for a soft loan to support their academic or professional advancement, with disbursement scheduled to begin the following Monday.
The Acting Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed, explained that the selection of the award winners followed a rigorous, transparent, and merit-based process. He said the evaluation involved reputable bodies including the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Kaduna State Bureau for Establishment and Administration Matters (KADBEAM), Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), School-Based Management Committees (SBMC), and the State Ministry of Education.
As the applause echoed across the venue, one thing became clear — Kaduna had not just celebrated its teachers; it had restored dignity to the teaching profession. For many educators in attendance, it was a reminder that excellence still matters, and that dedication in the classroom can indeed change lives — beginning with their own.