The Inoyo Toro foundation has rewarded 188 teachers drawn from public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State who have excelled in 8 subject areas during the year under its annual awards for excellence in teaching programme.
The subjects which the teachers were rewarded as part of efforts to foster positive and healthy competition among them are Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, English Language, Economics, Visual Arts and History as taught in pubic secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State.
A breakdown shows that 23 teachers were rewarded in English Language, 13 in Mathematics, 35 in Biology, 42 in Chemistry, 33 in physics, 26 in Economics and 13 in Visual Arts.
Three winners emerged in each subject with the first prize winner rewarded with a plaque and a cash prize of N250, 000, while the second prize winner got a plaque and cash prize of N150,000 and the third position got a plaque and cash prize of N100,000.
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Among the first prize winners were Helen Godwin Mboho who got N250, 000 for taking the first position in the teaching of Biology from State Secondary Commercial School, Okop Eto, Ikot Ekpene local government area, Gabriel Matthew Ukpabio from Lutheran Secondary School, Ibakachi who also took the first position in Chemistry and Bassey Patrick Eyo from Apostolic Church Secondary School, Ikot Oku Nsit who was the first in Economics and got home with a cash prize of N250,000.
There were no first and second prize winners in English Language, Mathematics and first prize winner in Physics as well as in Visual Arts but Iniobong Jacob Etim from Etinan Community Comprehensive Secondary school, Etinan emerged the third prize winner in Mathematics and got home with a cash prize of N100,000.
In the grand mentor teachers’ award category, five teachers from five public secondary schools emerged winners and got home with a cash prize of N500,000 each. Among them were Silvanus George, English Language, from Methodist Secondary School, Ibiaku Issiet, Uruan local government area, Imaobong Ekaette Ekaette of Christian Secondary Community School, Uyo in Biology and Kubiat Bassey Umoh from government secondary school, Afaha Eket in Economics among others.
Similarly, a school principal, Godwin John Ekong of Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket got the principal’s award for 2017 and went home with a cash prize of N500,000.
Speaking at the award ceremony which took place at Le Meridien Ibom hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, the state capital, Enobong Joshua, chairman of the award screening committee described teaching as a pillar of the society saying it gives birth to other professions.
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He said through the programme, the foundation has been supplementing the efforts of the state government in its educational development adding that the motivation of teachers is critical in addressing the apathy in the teacher’s work experience.
According to him, the grand mentor teacher’s award which the foundation also set up is aimed at providing avenue where teachers who had previously won the teachers’ award would mentor other teachers in their subject areas thus developing their teaching capabilities and making them better teachers. So far over 100 teachers have won in this award category.
He thanked the founder and board of trustees of the Inoyo Toro foundation for the ‘’vision and their continuous commitment to this noble project’’ saying it has impacted positively in the performance of some of the students in public examinations.
In his remarks, Governor Udom Emmanuel who was represented by the Secretary to the state government, Etekamba Umoren lauded the foundation for its contributions to the education sector by its recognition and award for excellence among teachers over the years.
He said the state government would continue to provide free and compulsory education from primary to secondary school level as part of its determination to ensure a bright future for all children in the state.
The award ceremony attracted a large crowd of professionals drawn from various areas of human endeavour and also featured a motivational talk by Isidore Edet, a major general and commander, infantry corps of Nigerian Army college, Jaji, Kaduna State.
ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo
