One would have expected them to look perplexed; considering that they are still teens. But they looked unruffled even as huge crowd gathered to witness the event at which they were “crowned” heroes.
Even though they had inkling about the day’s event, as teenagers, it was expected that they would feel a bit shy. They didn’t. That indicates that they were made to be future heroes.
Three of them: Babatimileyin Daomi 15; Salisu Ibrahim 14 and Favour Uwene 11 emerged winners at this year’s Indomie Independence Day Award.
They were rewarded at an award ceremony which held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Babatimileyin, a Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) student of Dobar College, Ikorodu Lagos State, won the Intellectual Bravery Award for inventing a vacuum cleaner, USB charger, USB fan, a collapsible bridge (a model of the 4th Mainland Bridge), a hydrogen separator which could also be used to make bombs and a water-level indicator-the specific invention for which he won the award.
But surprisingly, Timileyin (as he is fondly called), is much inclined to art subjects as his favourites. His most favourite subject is English Language. He, however, hopes to be an engineer in the future and to do more with his winning.
According to Timileyin, his challenges were basically funding as he had to create his models from scrap.
“I feel happy and hope to be able to do more with this money,” he said.
Favour Archibong Uwene, a Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3) pupil of Government Secondary School, Akwa Ibom State, won the Physical Bravery Award for raising the alarm which led to the rescue of one of three sisters who are her friends.
During one of the holiday periods, she went to their house and no one was there. She, at first, thought they were hiding from her but as she was about to leave, she heard muffled sounds. She peeped through the window and saw two dead bodies, with the killer getting ready to kill the third girl.
Favour immediately ran to call her mother who then alerted their neighbours and they all rushed to the girls’ house. The killer was apprehended and handed over to the police.
According to Favour, she was not afraid to raise the alarm because all she wanted was for her friends to be saved.
Favour hopes to be a teacher in future.
Salisu Ibrahim’s story sounds a bit pathetic. He won the Social Bravery Award for his determination to live beyond his disability.
Salisu was born blind but he chose not to beg. He is learning to be a cobbler and from the proceeds of his sales, he sponsors himself in school–Special Education Centre, Bauchi.
Each award category attracts N1 million in scholarships but with Salisu’s story, the audience was moved to do more.
Ace comedian, Ali Baba, gave him an additional N500, 000; Executive Director of Zenith Bank, Mr. Ebenezer donated N500, 000; Managing Director of Transatlantic Shipping Agency, Dr. Uche Ohafia donated N250, 000; Managing Director of Micro-Media donated N100, 000 while Managing Director of First Registrars, Bayo Olugbemi donated N250, 000 each to Salisu and Babatimileyin.
Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora also promised to add a token to Salisu’s prize while a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Joseph Sanusi also promised to add a token to Favour’s win. An anonymous donor also gave N100, 000 to each of the three heroes.
The Indomie Independence Day Award is an initiative of Dufil Prima Foods, makers of Indomie noodles and other household brands, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).
The Group Managing Director, Mr. Deepak Singhal said the Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA) was established in 2007 to recognise and reward heroism in children, adding that 24 winners had emerged in the last eight editions.
He reiterated that the award, in its ninth year, seeks to recognise heroic deeds in children between the ages of five and 15. This year’s award was divided into three categories, namely intellectual bravery, social bravery and physical bravery.
Singhal noted that selecting the winners was taxing for the judges as so many inspiring heroic stories were received.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who was represented by Mr. Odeyemi, praised Dufil for the gesture.
She urged parents and guardians to be more committed to the proper upbringing of their children, even as she reiterated government’s determination to continue to fight violence against children.
Keynote speaker and Managing Director of The Educational Partnership Centre (EPC), Dr. Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, who spoke on The Nigerian Child: Our Biggest but yet Untapped Resource, noted that the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had indicated that children under 15 years account for about 45 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
She noted that “the Nigerian child has the capacity and ability to contribute significantly to the development of the country. Stakeholders have a responsibility to cultivate these abilities by increasing access to affordable, high quality education for every child. A child’s socio-economic background and geographical location should not be a barrier to receiving quality education,” she said.
She said an estimated 10.5 million children are out of school, accounting for one-fifth of the global population of out-of-school children.
Adefeso-Olateju said: “I am pleased that Dufil has taken this bold step with the IIDA initiative which provides millions of Naira worth of scholarships to deserving children. This contributes to the development of the Nigerian child and relieving the pressure off the parents.
“I cannot over-emphasise the need to do right by the Nigerian children as they, without any doubt, are the leaders of tomorrow. We need to get things right with them and only then can they become assets to the country. We need to create an environment where they can develop their natural talents; they must be given a chance to contribute to their societies and, thus, to economic development and the growth of the country.
“Economic growth is necessary for development. However, this growth is very reliant on the cognitive skills of the population. This is why children, as human capital, are fundamental to the success of our nation.”
The panel of judges, chaired by Executive Director of Corona Schools, Olufunto Igun, urged the people to support the Nigerian child as, according to her, there were many more of Salisus out there who should be supported.
Dignitaries that attended the event were wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, who was represented by Mrs. Ronke Solomon, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, former CBN Governor Chief Joseph Sanusi and wife, movie producer Tunji Bamishigbin and Sound Sultan, among others.
The award ceremony was co-sponsored by Daar Communications Plc and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.
