Solanke Francis Taiwo, a primary school teacher, has emerged as the Overall Best Teacher in Nigeria for 2025, winning ₦50 million, a brand-new car, and a fully furnished two-bedroom house.
Eleven other outstanding teachers, selected from a pool of nominees drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, also received ₦25 million each.
The federal government had introduced a reward scheme to honour teachers for their dedication, innovation and impact on learning outcomes.
The awards, totalling ₦325 million, were presented at the Nigerian Teachers’ Summit held in Abuja.
Solanke Francis Taiwo is a teacher at Ansar-ud-Deen Main School 1, Kemta-Ilawo, in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The 11 other awardees are Mrs David Kachollom Joseph of GSS Nyango-Gyel, Plateau State; Malam Musa Abubakar Garba of GSS Tudun Wada, Kaduna State; Ifetike Hope Chekwube of Government Technical College, Onitsha, Anambra State; Obafemi Peter Lawal of Oriwa Senior Model College, Ikorodu, Lagos State; Johanna Gilando and Bashar Hantsi of Argungu Emirate Model Primary School, Kebbi State.
Others are Blessing Ikong, Chinwe Ituma, Gombo Lawan, Khadijat Galadima and Okide Ochike.
As part of the reforms unveiled at the summit, the federal government launched the EduRevamp Portal, a national platform designed to deliver structured, performance-driven, continuous professional development for teachers in public and private schools, shifting the focus to competence, accountability, and measurable classroom impact.
