By Abubakar Yunusa
A primary school teacher from Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Blessing Samuel Ikoni, has won the Basic Education category of the National Teachers Award organised by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The award was presented in Abuja during the January 2026 National Teachers Summit, an annual platform established to recognise excellence, innovation and impact in Nigeria’s education sector.
Ikoni, a certified Jolly Phonics trainer, emerged winner after a highly competitive selection process involving written examinations and practical classroom demonstrations assessed by education experts and ministry officials.
She had earlier scaled the state-level screening before advancing to the national stage.
Her victory has spotlighted the growing influence of structured literacy instruction in public primary schools and the commitment of teachers working at the grassroots.
Ikoni currently serves as a Teacher Leader within her Local Government Education Authority, mentoring colleagues and supporting literacy development across schools.
Her background in English studies and early-grade reading instruction distinguished her among contestants from across the federation.
Speaking after receiving the award, Ikoni described the honour as both recognition and responsibility.
“This award reflects the hard work we put into building strong literacy foundations for children, especially through the Jolly Phonics method.
It motivates me to do more, support more teachers and ensure every child becomes a confident reader and writer,” she said.
Notably, three of the six winners in the Basic Education category were trained Jolly Phonics educators, meaning half of the recipients shared a common background in the literacy programme, an outcome that underscores its effectiveness across different regions of Nigeria.
From the North-West, Bashar Hantsi, a headteacher from Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, also clinched an award in the same category.
He credited his success to the literacy skills and confidence gained through Jolly Phonics training, noting its impact on pupils’ reading outcomes.
Similarly, Khadija Galadima, a Jolly Phonics teacher from Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, emerged as a prize winner from the North-Central zone.
She said the programme had significantly strengthened her teaching capacity and improved pupils’ reading and writing skills.
Education stakeholders say the strong showing by Jolly Phonics-trained teachers at the summit reinforces the case for structured literacy approaches in Nigeria’s primary schools.
As more educators receive targeted training and national recognition, experts believe early reading and writing instruction will continue to improve learning outcomes and shape a generation of confident, capable young learners.
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