By Sulaiman Umar

This was made known to newsmen in Katsina by Sani Danjuma Suleiman,

Public Relations Officer of the ministry, saying, she congratulated him while receiving him at her office recently.

Usman Yahaya Tama, a Geography teacher at Government Day Senior Secondary School Katsinta, Army Barrack Katsina was among the 1,499 teachers across the country who submitted their application to participate in Education Trust Fund of Maltina Company that is aimed at celebrating classroom teachers and recognizing their efforts towards uplifting the educational sector in Nigeria.

In the competition organized by Maltina and headed by Felix Ohewerei, in collaboration with Stanbic IBTC bank and Air peace, there were 1,499 submissions made by classroom teachers across the country.

These submissions were put to first grading exercise and were narrowed down to 172, which Usman is among.

It underwent a second process that narrowed it from 172 to 30, which Usman is also among and were announced as state champions.

They were all further invited to Lagos state for a one-on-one interview to determine the national winner where he remained in his position as the state winner.

Usman Yahaya Tama who is from Bindawa local government area of Katsina state, was born and raised in Katsina town.

He attended primary school at Ambuttai primary school now Musa Yar’adua Model Primary School Katsina. 

Usman attended secondary school at Sir Usman Nagogo College of Arabic and Islamic Studies Katsina from where he proceeded to further his education at the Federal Collage of Education Katsina where he obtained the National Certificate in Education (NCE).

Usman proceeded to Umaru Musa Yar’ adua University Katsina where he obtained a  BSc Ed in Geography. He further moved to Bayero University Kano for a Master Degree in Environmental Management (MEM).

Usman came across an announcement in one of the national dailies asking classroom teachers from public and private schools across the country to participate in the Maltina Teacher Of The Year Competition, an initiative focused on honouring teachers and celebrating exceptional teaching practices in Nigeria. He emerges best in Katsina state and is honoured by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education.