Anambra, Ogun dominate as teachers, administrators and schools earn national recognition.

The Federal Government has announced the winners of the 2026 President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards, recognising outstanding teachers, school administrators and educational institutions for their contributions to the development of the nation’s education sector.

The awards, which cover public and private schools across the primary and secondary levels, saw educators and institutions from several states emerge winners in a range of categories.

Anambra State recorded a particularly strong showing, producing a significant number of individual and institutional winners, while Ogun State also featured prominently among the award recipients.

The overall top honours went to Gloria Nkolika Odionu, who was named the Overall Best Administrator, and Mary Oluwaseun Adebayo, who emerged Overall Best Teacher at the 2026 awards.

The winners were collated on Tuesday from the official public register of the President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards.

Odionu emerges Overall Best Administrator

Gloria Nkolika Odionu of Awada Primary School IV, Obosi, Anambra State, emerged as the Overall Best Administrator at the 2026 awards.

Odionu also won the Best Public Primary School Administrator category, placing her among the leading education administrators recognised nationally for excellence in school leadership and administration.

Adebayo named Overall Best Teacher

Mary Oluwaseun Adebayo of Nawair-Ud-Deen Grammar School Senior, Obantoko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was named the Overall Best Teacher.

Adebayo won the Best Public Senior Secondary School Teacher category, securing the highest individual teaching honour at the awards.

Her recognition highlights the role of classroom teachers in driving academic development and supporting students across the country’s public education system.

Other individual award winners

Several other teachers and school administrators were also recognised in specialised categories.

Hope Oluchi Nwocha of Susu College, Nkpor, Anambra State, won the Best Private Junior Secondary School Administrator category.

Agartha Chika Oforjindu of Urban Boy Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra State, was named Best Public Junior Secondary School Administrator.

Oluwatoyin Ashaye of Remo Secondary School Senior, Sagamu, Ogun State, won the Best Public Senior Secondary School Administrator category.

In the teaching categories, Ogechukwu Jacinta Ifeajekwu of Divine Rays British Secondary School, Obosi, Anambra State, won the Best Private Junior Secondary School Teacher award.

Peace Amarachi Ohanuka of Ideke Community Primary School, Odekpe, Anambra State, emerged winner of the Best Public Primary School Teacher category.

The Best Public Senior Secondary School Teacher category also produced two other recognised educators. Grace Chimallume Isaac of Community Secondary School, Agulu, Anambra State, was named First Runner-Up.

While Adeola Olufunke Akinsulure of Omole Senior Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos State, emerged Second Runner-Up.

Schools also honoured

The 2026 awards also recognised schools that distinguished themselves in the various categories.

Divine Rays British Secondary School, Obosi, Anambra State, won the Best Private Junior Secondary School category.

The Best Private Primary School award went to Handmaids Infant Jesus Nursery and Basic School, Awka, Anambra State.

Transatlantic Nursery and Primary School, Ogun State, was named First Runner-Up in the Best Private Primary School category.

In the senior secondary school category, Austica Memorial College, Nanka, Anambra State, won the Best Private Senior Secondary School award.

The Best Public Primary School category was won by Community Primary School, Mile 2, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Digital selection planned for transparency

The latest recognition follows an earlier announcement that the Federal Government planned to deploy a digital process in selecting teachers for the 2026 President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards.

The move was part of broader efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and documentation in the identification and recognition of outstanding teachers.

The digital approach was expected to provide a more structured process for identifying deserving educators while improving the integrity of the awards programme.

With the announcement of the 2026 winners, teachers, school administrators and institutions across the country have now been formally recognised for their contributions to education, leadership and school development.

Full list of 2026 winners

  1. Gloria Nkolika Odionu — Best Public Primary School Administrator; Overall Best Administrator — Awada Primary School IV, Obosi, Anambra.

  2. Mary Oluwaseun Adebayo — Best Public Senior Secondary School Teacher; Overall Best Teacher — Nawair-Ud-Deen Grammar School Senior, Obantoko, Abeokuta, Ogun.

  3. Hope Oluchi Nwocha — Best Private Junior Secondary School Administrator — Susu College, Nkpor, Anambra.

  4. Agartha Chika Oforjindu — Best Public Junior Secondary School Administrator — Urban Boy Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra.

  5. Oluwatoyin Ashaye — Best Public Senior Secondary School Administrator — Remo Secondary School Senior, Sagamu, Ogun.

  6. Ogechukwu Jacinta Ifeajekwu — Best Private Junior Secondary School Teacher — Divine Rays British Secondary School, Obosi, Anambra.

  7. Peace Amarachi Ohanuka — Best Public Primary School Teacher — Ideke Community Primary School, Odekpe, Anambra.

  8. Grace Chimallume Isaac — First Runner-Up, Best Public Senior Secondary School Teacher — Community Secondary School, Agulu, Anambra.

  9. Adeola Olufunke Akinsulure — Second Runner-Up, Best Public Senior Secondary School Teacher — Omole Senior Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos.

  10. Divine Rays British Secondary School, Obosi — Best Private Junior Secondary School — Anambra.

  11. Handmaids Infant Jesus Nursery and Basic School, Awka — Best Private Primary School — Anambra.

  12. Transatlantic Nursery and Primary School — First Runner-Up, Best Private Primary School — Ogun.

  13. Austica Memorial College, Nanka — Best Private Senior Secondary School — Anambra.

  14. Community Primary School, Mile 2, Abeokuta — Best Public Primary School — Ogun.