After months of search and scrutiny, 10 young heroes, between the ages of six and 12, were selected from the over 200 entries for the Indomie Independence Day Award (IIDA) for Heroes of Nigeria.
The award ceremony is a yearly event to celebrate young ones who have achieved the extra-ordinary, even in the face of daunting challenges.
The Indomie Independence Dar Award (IIDA) for Heroes of Nigeria is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Noodles, to extol and support the exemplary accomplishments of children who have shown courage and determination in situations that ordinarily would cause fear.
This year marks the award’s 10th anniversary, and to mark this, 10 winners were selected from the over 200 entries.
Three winners emerged from each category of Physical bravery, Social bravery and Intellectual bravery; the 10th award was for the most outstanding bravery act.
Emmanuel Adebisi and Joel Clement each won a consolation prize of N250, 000 in the Intellectual Bravery category.
Adebisi invented a switch which could be operated from a mobile phone while Clement built a wooden incubator to hatch eggs.
John Blessing and John Wealth each won a consolation prize of N250, 000 in the Social Bravery category. Blessing campaigned against child abuse, especially rape, after her elder sister was raped to death. Wealth also fought against child abuse and early marriage by begging his mother to adopt an orphan whose aunty wanted to force into early marriage.
For the Physical Bravery category, Ubong Akpan, from Akwa Ibom State, rescued a nursing mother who was involved in an accident. He was going home after the day’s sales when he encountered the woman after she was abandoned by a hit-and-run vehicle. Akpan took her to the hospital in his wheelbarrow. Adejorin Oluwato-biloba on her part rescued a little girl from kidnappers while she hawked goods for her mother. Each winner got a consolation prize of N250, 000.
Apart from the consolation prizes, three other winners were rewarded with N1 million in the category section.
Thirteen-year-old Paul David from Benue State invented a radio station (Techno FM) to transmit music to his neighbourhood. He also installs satellite dishes after undergoing a personal self-development course. He got an additional N1 million from an anonymous donor.
In the Social Bravery category, 15-year-old Olanrewaju Oluwafemi from Ibadan won N1 million for using football to campaign against juvenile crime.
According to him, he could think of no other unifying sport than football to gain the attention of his mates. It, however, took him time and greater effort to get support from the adults. And when he couldn’t get funds to buy a trophy, he designed one by himself. He is happy with the outcome of his efforts.
Oluwafemi also got an extra N500, 000 from Coronation Merchant Bank Limited.
For rescuing about 12 children from Boko Haram insurgents and reuniting them with their families, 14-year-old Zulka Mohammed from Adamawa State won N1 million in the Physical Bravery category. When Boko Haram insurgents attacked his village, Ibrahim realised he had to act swiftly. He gathered some helpless children and took them into the bush, where he kept them alive for two weeks. They were reunited with their families after calm had been restored.
Chibuoyim Nnakwe, 11-year-old, from Abia State rescued his mother from a burning fire when he was just six years old. His mother was refilling a lighted kerosene lamp when it exploded. Chibuoyim, whose father had travelled out of town, on seeing this, ran into the flames and carried the burning lantern out of the shop before calling for help.
Chibuoyim suffered third degree burns and was in the hospital for three months. He still has the scars to remind him of his heroic act.
And for this act of bravery, Chibuoyim got N1.5 million for the most outstanding bravery act and another N1 million from an anonymous donor.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, in her goodwill message, praised Dufil Prima Foods for the gesture.
According to her, the IIDA is an addition to the success story of Dufil Prima Foods, having made Indomie a household name in Nigeria.
While delivering his keynote address, the Executive Director of Caleb Group of Schools, Mr.Graham Stothard, described the winners as ‘the wealth of the nation”.
“Childhood is a spring of life; the genesis. It is the age of discovery and dreams. They have the power to transform this country into a better place,” Stothard said.
He added that the role of the youth in preserving Nigeria is so “basic, yet fundamental and crucial, because they are problem-solvers who can positively influence other young people and potentially Nigeria”.
The Group Managing Director of Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Deepak Singhal, expressed delight at the success of the event.
Deepak said: “As a company, we have sustained this initiative over the years, owing to our commitment to continuously impact positively on the lives of our consumers, most importantly the children who represent the future.
“I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved in the last 10 years with IIDA. Our CSR credentials are an important part of our company’s DNA. It’s critical to who we are and what we stand for.”
Dufil’s Chief Operating Officer, Girish Sharma said: “A significant part of our CSR initiatives is our engagement with the public. The success of IIDA’s philosophy remains true today, and is evident in the many and varied selfless efforts and commitment we have taken at ensuring the success of the IIDA in the last nine years.
“By celebrating 10 winners, Nigerians can better understand the capabilities and how valuable these exceptional children mean to us.”
