Winner of the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year, Sarah Yusuf, has commended community leaders in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State for their investments in education and support for underserved learners.
Yusuf, in a statement reflecting on her recent community engagement, described giving back to the community that nurtured her as both a responsibility and an opportunity to create pathways for the next generation.
She particularly applauded the House of Assembly Member representing Omala LGA Constituency, Hon. Umar Yahaya Connect, for awarding a ₦1 million scholarship to a female student.
According to her, the beneficiary is the younger sister of a male student who previously received a scholarship after recording an impressive performance in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Yusuf said the gesture demonstrated how supporting one child could positively impact an entire family.
Beyond the scholarship, she disclosed that Yahaya also distributed writing materials to hundreds of underserved learners in the community as part of efforts to improve access to education.
Yusuf, who is also an education stakeholder, contributed to the initiative by donating copies of her book, Practical English Made Easy for Nigerian Students: Integrating Digital Tools, to three other outstanding underserved learners.
She stressed that children need not only access to education but also the resources, encouragement and opportunities required to excel.
The 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year also expressed appreciation to the Chairman of Omala Local Government Area, Hon. Mark Noble, for his support for educational development at the grassroots.
She equally acknowledged the Director of Transport, Omala Local Government Area, for his contribution to the community development efforts.
Yusuf further described her meeting with the Kogi State Commissioner for Education as a significant opportunity, saying it strengthened her optimism about greater attention to the educational needs of Abejukolo and surrounding communities.
She noted that stronger collaboration between political leaders, education stakeholders and community members would help improve educational opportunities for children across the area.
Yusuf said, “When leadership embraces education, communities find their voice, children discover their possibilities, and the future begins to look brighter.”
She called for sustained investment in education, particularly for underserved learners, stressing that empowering children through education remains one of the most effective ways to build a lasting legacy in communities.
