Nigerians vie for Toyota Dream Car contest honours in Japan

The 9th edition of the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest organised yearly by Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) to encourage creativity among children among Nigerian students have been concluded across three geographical zones of Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos zones.

Eligible to participate in the contest were students drawn from Junior Secondary Schools as well as Primary school pupils cutting across three different age categories.  The nine winners will take part in the global contest in Japan next month.

While category one comprise of children under eight years, category two are for ages 8 to 11 and category is populated with pupils of ages 12 to 15.  Some private and public primary as well as secondary schools across Nigeria participated in the brain and brawn contest.

At the end of the exercise, over 2,000 entries were collated and a panel of creative arts professionals and auto engineers was saddled with the responsibility of carefully selecting the nine finalists using environmental friendliness, safety and futuristic as yardsticks for selection.

The owners of the 9 best drawings were accompanied by their parents/guardians and art teachers to the prize and certificate presentation ceremony which held at Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, head office, Lekki, Lagos to receive their certificates of excellence from the managing director, Kunle Ade-Ojo.

In addition to the certificates, the children were presented with lap tops and other beautiful corporate gifts that would etch the contest in their memories for a long time to come. In his remarks, Kunle Ade-Ojo said TNL’s sponsorship of the programme is based on the company’s belief in the mental and psychological development of the Nigerian child.

He expressed satisfaction on the encouraging level of participation in the contest and was particularly grateful to teachers and parents for moulding the children to proud champions. Kunle Ade-Ojo stressed that considering the beautiful concepts behind the drawings; the time might be now that Nigeria would produce a winner on the world stage and promised to continue to sponsor the contest annually.

Responding on behalf of the finalists, Okolo Chimneri Elendua contestant in the age 8-11 category expressed appreciation to Toyota Nigeria Limited and described the company as a standard setter in Nigeria.

She thanked TNL for providing the platform for her and other contestants to showcase their God given creative talents and promised to be an ambassador of the Toyota brand now and in future.

Bukunola Ogunnusi, public relations and advert manager thanked the children for participating in the contest and parents, guardians and teachers for the support accorded the children during the competition. She wished the finalists luck and expressed hope that at least one of the entries should be among the winners when the result is announced next month in Japan.

The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest holds annually globally. National winners whose art works scale through the world challenge in each of the three categories is sponsored on an all-expense paid trip to Japan where they will have the opportunity to attend the award ceremony which will feature presentation of Special Jury’s Award as well as Finalist Award by the President  of Toyota Motor Corporation.

Those whose artworks would be representing Nigeria at the world contest include: Under 8:Okoye Chizamekpere Angel, Pampers Private School, Lagos, Onimisi Oyiza Margaret and Okafor Stephanie Onyinye from Brookstone Schools, Port Harcourt.

Age 8-11: Maikankan Sadiya and Okolo Chimneri Elendu both from Eye on the Future Secondary School, Lagos and Okarike Prosper Kenneth from Graceland International School Port Harcourt, and ages 11- 15: Nwafor Esther Ngozichukwu, Maryland Comprehensive College Lagos, Echendu Elvis Chidubem Graceland International School Port Harcourt, and Ekeh Chukwudubem Kelvin, Emerald High School, Ogun State.