The winner of the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year Award, Serah Yusuf, has launched a new educational foundation aimed at expanding access to quality learning opportunities for children living in slum and underserved communities across Nigeria.
The initiative, known as the Sustainable Education and Empowerment through Digital (SEED) Foundation, was officially unveiled in Abuja as part of efforts to address educational inequality and empower vulnerable children through learning, digital literacy, mentorship and leadership development programmes.
Yusuf, a teacher at Wisdom International School of Excellence, Abuja, rose to national prominence after emerging winner of the 11th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year competition in November 2025, earning the competition’s N10 million grand prize.
Speaking during the launch ceremony, she explained that the foundation was established to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome barriers that often limit their educational and personal development.
According to her, the organisation seeks to create opportunities that will enable young people to acquire relevant skills, gain confidence and build brighter futures regardless of the circumstances surrounding their upbringing.
Drawing from her personal experiences, Yusuf revealed that her passion for educational advocacy was shaped by her own journey from a slum environment to becoming one of Nigeria’s most celebrated educators.
She noted that many talented children remain trapped in cycles of poverty and exclusion because they lack access to educational resources and opportunities that could transform their lives.
“SEED Foundation was established to ensure that children in slum and underserved communities are not defined by their environment but by their potential,” she said.
She added that through education, mentorship, digital skills training and empowerment programmes, the foundation hopes to inspire children to look beyond their present realities and pursue their aspirations with confidence.
Before establishing the foundation, Yusuf had already been implementing several interventions through her “Voice from the Slum” initiative, which provides educational support for children in disadvantaged communities.
The programme has offered financial assistance, school fees, textbooks, uniforms and sanitary materials for girls, helping many learners remain in school despite economic challenges.
As part of the unveiling event, Yusuf also launched an educational textbook titled Practical English Made Easy for Nigerian Students: Integrating Digital Tools for JSS 1–SSS 3, designed to make English language learning more engaging and relevant in an increasingly digital world.
The educator further recognised outstanding young writers for their creativity and academic excellence, explaining that the awards were introduced to encourage literacy, critical thinking, communication skills and a culture of reading among students.
In another major highlight of the event, a fully funded scholarship covering education from junior secondary school to university level was awarded to Ayodele Grate through the support of Kabir Abass and the management of Wisdom International School of Excellence.
The foundation also presented digital devices to Noko Modester and Uche Destiny, two students mentored by Yusuf who emerged winners at the 2025 PLAN International Nigeria Debate and Quizzes Competition following six months of intensive digital literacy training.
Yusuf expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Breweries–Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund and the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative for providing a platform that enabled her to expand her educational impact. She also thanked her school management, mentors, family members, policymakers and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the success of the initiative.
The launch attracted educators, community leaders, government officials, parents and students, many of whom described the SEED Foundation as a significant step towards promoting inclusive education and creating sustainable opportunities for children living in some of Nigeria’s most underserved communities.
