News Highlights:
- Union Bank reaffirmed education as a strategic investment, highlighting its Edu360 initiative and calling for deeper private-sector involvement in strengthening Nigeria’s education ecosystem.
- The bank praised the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition’s impact, noting its ₦100 million grand prize and recognition of over 300 teachers, while urging sustained support for educators nationwide.
Union Bank of Nigeria has reinforced its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s education sector, declaring education a strategic investment critical to national development at the launch of the 12th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition (MTOTY) in Lagos.
The bank, now in its third consecutive year as a partner of the initiative, joined organisers, Nigerian Breweries Plc and the Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, as well as educators and other stakeholders, at a panel session focused on how targeted educational support can improve learning outcomes for both teachers and students.
At the event, Union Bank underscored the importance of sustained investment in teachers and learners, highlighting the role of strategic partnerships in driving meaningful change across the education ecosystem.
Speaking on behalf of the bank, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Olufunmilola Aluko, stressed that education occupies a central place in Union Bank’s long-term vision and social impact agenda.
“At Union Bank, we believe education is not a social obligation. It is a strategic investment,” she said. “A nation that does not invest in its teachers and its learners is borrowing from its own future, and we are in the business of building futures, not mortgaging them.”
Aluko identified Edu360, the bank’s flagship education initiative under the UnionCares platform, as a practical demonstration of that commitment.
According to her, the programme addresses the entire education value chain by expanding access to learning opportunities for children in underserved communities, supporting teachers, promoting digital literacy and STEM education, and equipping young people with skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
She also challenged the financial services sector to move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility approaches and play a more transformative role in educational development.
“Financial institutions need to stop thinking of ourselves as donors and start thinking of ourselves as ecosystem builders,” she said.
“We can embed financial literacy into school curricula, design products that help parents save for their children’s education, and convene policymakers, educators and the private sector around shared goals. Above all, we can show up consistently, not only when it suits our brand calendars.”
Aluko emphasized that sustainable progress in education depends on strong collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
She pointed to the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition as a compelling example of the impact that long-term commitment can achieve, citing the competition’s ₦100 million grand prize and its track record of recognising more than 300 teachers across twelve editions.
She described MTOTY as a reflection of the same consistency and dedication that Union Bank seeks to demonstrate through its Edu360 initiative.
Her closing remarks celebrated the invaluable contribution of teachers to national development.
“To every teacher in this country, what you do is not small,” she said. “Your story deserves to be told, and Nigeria needs to know your name.”
Union Bank’s participation in the competition aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on inclusive and equitable quality education and reflects the institution’s broader commitment to social impact and sustainable development in the communities it serves.
