Kaduna Rewards Outstanding Teachers with Awards, Scholarships and Loans
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Kaduna State has honoured 115 outstanding teachers in its maiden Best Teacher Award Ceremony, with winners set to benefit from scholarships and soft loans designed to advance their careers and strengthen the education sector.
The best teachers form each LGA were awarded with #500,000 and a certificate, while the overall best who is from Chikun LGA, earn herself additional #500,000 and another certificate.
The Commissioner in addition pledged the state government support the overall winner Esther Affun and upgrade her HND to b.ED and award her a Schoolarship to study MSc and PhD.
The ceremony, supported by UNICEF and other partners working in the education sector, held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Kaduna.
The ceremony brought together government officials, development partners, traditional rulers, and education stakeholders to celebrate excellence in teaching in commemoration of the 2025 World Teachers Day.
Governor Uba Sani described teachers as the “architects of our future” and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making education the cornerstone of development, noting that 26.14% of the 2025 state budget was dedicated to the sector.
In a major announcement, Professor Yahaya Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna Scholarship and Loan Board, revealed that all 115 awardees would receive soft loans to further their service.
The initiative, supported by Uba Sani’s Special Scholarship International, is scheduled for disbursement beginning Monday. “By the special grace of God, this support will help you reach your goals. We believe you will go on to become strong sponsors and contributors to society,” he said.
Acting KADSUBEB Chairman, Alhaji Mubarak Mohammed, said the awards were a defining moment for education in Kaduna, noting that the rigorous selection process involved TRCN, KADBEAM, KSSQAA, NUT, SBMC, and the Ministry of Education. He thanked partners including UNICEF, Save the Children, PLANE, Zenith Bank, Nigerian Breweries, and ROOSC for their support.
Representing the Emir of Zazzau, the District Head of Kawo, Alhaji Jibril Muhammad Magaji, said teachers are the backbone of society, stressing that without them, there would be no leaders, professionals, or professors.
Emmanuel Mbursa, Project Director of the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project, delivered a goodwill message on behalf of Save the Children Nigeria’s Country Director, Mr. Duncan Harvey, commending the Kaduna State Government for recognising teachers and pledging continued support for teacher professional development.
Diana Agabi, PLANE State Team Lead, aligned the awards with the 2025 World Teachers’ Day theme, “Recasting Teachers as a Collaborative Profession.” She urged teachers to see the recognition as a call to greater responsibility and role-modelling.
The maiden Best Teacher Award Ceremony, which coincided with this year’s World Teachers’ Day commemoration, sets a new benchmark for recognising excellence in Kaduna’s education sector and will now become an annual programme to inspire professionalism and improve learning outcomes across the state.
