Toyota Nigeria Limited has recognised nine schoolchildren as national winners of the prestigious 17th edition of the Toyota Dream Car Art contest.
The annual competition, organised by Toyota Motor Corporation Japan in collaboration with its representatives worldwide, encourages children to unleash their creativity by envisioning and illustrating their dream cars with innovative and inspirational ideas.
The automobile giant said in a statement that the national winners were celebrated and presented with laptops, corporate gifts, and certificates during a grand ceremony at TNL Corporate head office in Lekki, Lagos, recently.
All nine current winners were invited to present their drawings and the ideas behind them before receiving their prizes and certificates.
The Managing Director of TNL, Kunle Ade-Ojo, stated that all drawings the nine winners created had been sent to Japan to compete with other winning drawings across the globe.
The TNL MD mentioned that the company chose to identify with the competition as part of its corporate social responsibilities by encouraging the children to develop their creativity and God-given talent.
He remarked, “We are doing this for the children. It is a means of developing their creativity and reminding them that anything is possible if they can dream. When they are young, it will also be part of them.
“Though it is costing us a lot of money, we are glad we are doing it so that the creativity in them does not diminish.”
Ade-Ojo also commended the teachers and parents for their support, adding, “Without their support, participating in this event would not have been possible.”
Four of the winners are pupils of Corona School, Lagos; two from Abuja-based Loyola Jesuit College; two from Avi-Cenna International School, and one from Vivian-Fowler Memorial College for Girls, Lagos.
Female contestants won all the categories this year.
The competition organised for schoolchildren all over the world by Toyota Motor Corporation Japan, in conjunction with its representatives in many countries, challenges them to draw their dream cars with an inspirational idea.
Last year, Nigeria’s Oluwademilade Odumuboni, a 9-year-old boy from Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, won the coveted prize, beating other contestants from over 90 countries.
His drawing, titled Waste Converter, with the concept of helping countries, especially African communities, in food production and ensuring a clean environment, was adjudged the best globally in his age category.