Abia Govt Rewards Dedication, Hard Work at Maiden Teachers End of Session Excellence Award 

In a strategic effort to reward outstanding performances in science education, the Abia State Government has marked the maiden Teachers End of Academic Session Excellence Award Day (TEASEAD 2026).

The event, organised by Assppaa-Isbors Platform Limited, in collaboration with the Abia State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and other education stakeholders, to mark the conclusion of the 2025/2026 academic session of the Science Teachers’ Championship (STC).

Declaring the event open in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Abia State, Dr. David Kalu, said the gathering was more than an awards ceremony, but a celebration of dedication, hard work and the collective commitment of stakeholders to advancing education, science and innovation in the state.

Kalu said the recognition of teachers was particularly important because behind every successful science student was often a committed and passionate teacher who had helped to nurture the student’s curiosity and interest in science.

According to him, the journey towards producing future scientists, engineers, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs begins in the classroom and with the teacher.

“If we are serious about making Abia a leading centre for innovation and technology, then we must first celebrate, empower, support, and encourage those teachers who are igniting the passion for science in our young people every day,” Kalu said.

The Commissioner said the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation was committed to cultivating a generation of young people who were curious, innovative and technologically minded.

He urged more students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology.

He congratulated the teachers and students recognised at the event, noting that their achievements represented an investment in the human capital needed to drive the future development of the state.

Speaking on the Science Teachers’ Championship, the Chief Executive Officer of Assppaa-Isbors Platform Limited, Patrick Ejike Ochuba, said the programme was established to identify, recognise, celebrate and reward outstanding science teachers and students.

Ochuba described the initiative as a pioneering programme, noting that Abia State was taking the lead with the maiden edition of TEASEAD, and expressed optimism that similar initiatives would be adopted by other states.

“The Science Teachers’ Championship is a digital platform designed to connect, assess, retrain and reward science teachers and students in public and private secondary schools,” Ochuba explained.

According to him, the platform seeks to improve transparency in classroom activities, motivate teachers, promote practical science education and encourage students to embrace science through Inquiry-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning.

He said the initiative was also designed to address challenges affecting science education, including inadequate recognition of teachers, weak motivation systems, poor teaching methodologies and limited access to regular in-service training.

Ochuba disclosed that participating teachers and students earn Teacher Basic Points and Student Basic Points through their activities on the platform, while teachers also receive stipends for science experiments uploaded to the platform.

He said monthly top-performing teachers and students were also eligible for cash prizes, adding that the incentives had contributed to motivating participants in Abia State.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Ekeoma Chigozie Akidi, described TEASEAD 2026 as a landmark event and a defining milestone in the state’s educational journey.

“The initiative was established to recognise teachers who demonstrated exceptional commitment to classroom delivery, student mentorship and school leadership throughout the academic session,” she said.

According to her, TEASEAD was also designed to encourage healthy competition among basic and secondary schools across the state’s 17 Local Government Areas while restoring dignity and recognition to the teaching profession.

The Permanent Secretary congratulated the awardees, describing them as representatives of the gold standard of education in Abia State, while assuring other teachers that their contributions remained valued even if they did not receive physical awards.

She said the Ministry remained committed to continuous professional development, better working conditions and improved recognition of teachers across the state.

Among the major award recipients was Ebenezer Favour of Afugiri Girls Secondary School, Umuahia North, who distinguished herself as one of the outstanding students in the competition, emerging as the best in several science subjects, including Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

Her exceptional performance placed Afugiri Girls Secondary School in the spotlight, demonstrating the capacity of public schools in Abia State to produce students who can compete favourably in science and other academic disciplines when given the right support and encouragement.

The school also produced the Best Chemistry Teacher, Mrs. Uchenna Victoria, whose outstanding contribution to science education was recognised alongside the achievements of her students.

The recognition of both the student and her teacher underscored the central message of the awards ceremony: that student excellence in science is often strengthened by the commitment, creativity and dedication of teachers who inspire learners in the classroom.