Olubunmi Anani’s annoucement as the Maltina Teacher of the Year (MTOY) was the second by a woman since the award began in 2015.

The English teacher at Concordia College, Yola, Adamawa State follows Rose Nkemdilim Obi, who made history as the pioneer winner of the contest in 2015 during an electrifying event held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

Since then, four men have won the award.They are: Imoh Essien, Akwa Ibom (2016), Felix Ariguzo, Delta State (2017), Olasunkanmi Opeifa, FCT (2018), and Ezem Collins (2019).

For winning the award held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Anani got N6.5 million as star prize. She was presented with N1 million for emerging the national champion in addition to the N500,000 she got as Adamawa State champion. She will also get N1 million yearly for the next five years from the Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund.

Apart from the cash prize, Anani will get an all-expense paid capacity development training abroad while her school would get a fully equipped computer laboratory or block of six-classrooms worth N20 million.

 

Anani was followed by Idele Benedicta, a teacher from Asoro Grammar School (Senior), Edo State, in second position winning N1.5 million while Adeeko Folukemi, a teacher from Patterson Memorial Baptist Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State placed third with a prize of N1,250,000. Twenty-seven other teachers, who emerged as state champions, were also rewarded with N500,000 each.

The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, praised the company’s commitment to supporting the education sector by rewarding high-performing teachers through the yearly Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative.

 

Nwajiuba said it was heartwarming that the company is keeping faith with this initiative despite the disruptive impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses and economy.

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Jordi Borrut Bel, explained that the initiative was designed to recognise, celebrate and motivate teachers whose stories have become great reminders of their role in laying the foundation for a good society.

Congratulating the finalists alongside state champions for coming this far, he stated that the role of teachers cannot be underestimated given their contribution to shaping and moulding lives.

“With the Maltina Teacher of the Year, we are saying that our teachers can and should be rewarded for their roles in the development of our nation,” Bel said.

Also, the Commissioner of Education, Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, who represented the Lagos  State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, lauded Nigerian Breweries, noting that teachers play a significant role in nation-building given their contribution in imparting knowledge in students.

 

The Corporate Affairs Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs Sade Morgan, stated that the sixth edition was an improvement on the preceding year in terms of participation as the initiative received 1,234 entries from teachers all over the country despite the short submission period and other challenges caused by coronavirus pandemic.

Morgan praised the resilience and uncommon passion of teachers for defying the odds by finding new ways to teach students through virtual means despite the technological limitation. She added  that their contribution during the difficult period lends credence to their critical role in societal development.

Miss Anani thanked Nigerian Breweries  and  Maltina for putting smiles on the faces of teachers by rewarding them.

Roksana quickened up impressively to win the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby in fine fashion.

Dan and Harry Skelton have an impressive strike-rate at the West Yorkshire track and their well-backed 13-8 favourite further augmented their tally with a taking success.

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Having been dropped out towards the rear, Roksana loomed up looking a huge threat at the third last and the only question was how much she had left in the locker.

Stayers' Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar and Next Destination, having his first start for Paul Nicholls, both looked to be travelling well, but neither had an answer to the mare.

Roksana put the race to bed in a matter of strides, scooting eight and a half lengths clear of Next Destination, with Kildisart in third and Lisnagar Oscar fourth.

Mrs Hyde proved too strong for Grade One-winning mare Verdana Blue in the bet365 Mares' Hurdle at West Yorkshire track.

Nicky Henderson's 2018 Christmas Hurdle heroine was the 5-6 favourite to get back on the winning trail, having filled the runner-up spot behind Silver Streak in a Listed event at Kempton a fortnight ago.

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Verdana Blue had upwards of 22lb in hand over her six rivals in West Yorkshire on official ratings, but came up short in the rain-softened ground.

The Brian Ellison-trained Mrs Hyde had won on the same Kempton card a couple of weeks ago and was a 6-1 shot to double her Listed tally in the hands of Daryl Jacob.

Verdana Blue loomed up ominously in the home straight, but Mrs Hyde refused to bend on the run-in and saw her off by a neck.

"She's never stopped improving," said Ellison.

"When she won at Southwell and Perth during the summer, she made the running, but after she got beat at Market Rasen we decided we'd drop her in and give her a chance. It worked at Kempton and it's worked again today.

"Daryl said he got to the front a bit early today. The plan was to sit until the last and try to pick the favourite off.

"She's won on soft ground today and won on good to firm. She's tough."

Considering future plans, the trainer added: "She's won four of her last five races now and we might just give her a break.

"I know she's won twice left-handed now, but I do think she's better right-handed, so we could go back to Kempton or somewhere like that."

Sean Bowen delivered Irish raider Hear No Evil with a well-timed challenge to claim the Price Promise At bet365 Handicap Chase.

The 16-1 shot was settled at the rear of the field for much of the three-mile contest, but came home strongly to score by nine and a half lengths from Grange Ranger.

It was a welcome boost for trainer Noel Kelly, who had to withdraw stable star Decor Irlandais from the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle later in the afternoon.

He said: "Decor Irlandais is here, but he pulled off a shoe. It's a bit frustrating, but at least he didn't break a tendon or something. It's only a pulled shoe and it's not the end of the world.

"We bought this horse (Hear No Evil) out of Dan Skelton's yard. We said to Sean 'take your time and if they go too fast, he'll keeping plugging on'. He gave him a brilliant ride, I thought."

Skelton's Ashtown Lad displayed courage and class in equal measure to win a bet365 Novices' Hurdle run in atrocious conditions.

Narrowly beaten over the course and distance on his previous outing, the 11-10 favourite was sent straight to the lead by Harry Skelton and jumped slickly and travelled strongly, despite the driving rain, on his way to a near three-length verdict.

A sodden Dan Skelton said: "He's a very nice horse and he has a good attitude, obviously, to go from the front in that weather.

"He's a chaser really and I always felt like this was a good horse.

"I'm not sure what we'll do now. I'll talk to Darren (Yates, owner) and decide."

Tom George and Johnny Burke combined to claim the bet365 Handicap Chase with play.