Soludo Splashes N50m on Winners of President’s Teachers & Schools Excellence Awards

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has commended teachers in the state for their excellent work and for positioning the state’s public schools to win numerous national awards.

Soludo gave the commendation on Tuesday at the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration and endorsement march, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) themed – ‘Together for Teachers, Together for Tomorrow ‘.

He said the winner of overall best school would receive adding cash prize of N10million while each for the other award categories would receive N5million.

The governor highlighted pivotal role of teachers in achieving the reforms, stressing that no education system could thrive without quality teachers.

He said, “One of our schools emerged overall best in Nigeria, with eight other awards across various categories at the 2025 President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards.

“You have won an 18-seater bus and laptops, but I want to add a cash prize of N10million for the overall best school and N5million each for the other award categories.

“Also those who won various awards since 2022 when I assumed office will also get N5 million each.

“WAEC recently named Community Secondary School Eziowelle, as the best science school in Nigeria.

“I’m very happy that our huge investment in education is yielding great results and you deserve to be celebrated.

“No school system survives without teachers. If you want to evaluated the future of a society, you look at the quality of its teachers.”

The governor expressed joy that resuscitation of public school system has yielded remarkable results in literacy, numeracy and school enrolment across the state.

“Literacy and numeracy levels in public schools have increased by over 40 per cent, while public school enrolment have risen by over 45 per cent since the state resuscitated its public school system.

“Anambra now has almost zero per cent of out-of-school children in Nigeria. This is a testament to our commitment to quality education.

“Our administration recognises that education and human capital are our greatest assets, and we will do whatever it takes to make our public schools rise again.

Also speaking, state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mrs Chika Chukwudozie thanked the Governor for his support to the education sector.

“We appreciate the Governor for regular payment of salaries, promotions, continuous teacher training and recruitment of 8,315 teachers.

“Renovation and upgrade of schools to smart schools, free education policy and payment of long-overdue teachers’ gratuities,” she said.

Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said the event was to thank and endorse Soludo ahead of the Nov. 8 election, to enable him continue his remarkable strides in the education sector.