Determined to cushion the financial constraints indigent but extraordinarily gifted children face in Nigeria, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, has kicked off the search for children who will qualify for the scholarship grants at the Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA)
IIDA is a national award event that identifies, celebrates, and rewards the exemplary accomplishments of children who have shown uncommon courage and determination in precarious situations. The award encourages excellence and diligence in children.
Tope Ashiwaju, group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, says kick-off of the 13th edition will start from August 2020 and run till third week in September,2020.
According to him, “This year’s edition of the award will mark the 13th year of the noble initiative which has impacted the lives of many Nigerian children. In typical fashion, three winners will be rewarded with one million naira worth of scholarship each from three award categories: physical, social, and intellectual bravery.”
The physical bravery category will acknowledge kids who saved lives or by their actions prevented extensive damage to property or others at great personal risk. The social bravery category will celebrate kids who work against social evils such as child marriage, illiteracy, and environmental concerns in a sustained manner, while the intellectual bravery category will recognise children with innate intellect who have performed remarkably well despite their physical, mental, emotional or financial limitations.
Ashiwaju noted that the initiative is the corporate social responsibility of the Indomie brand adding that the search exercise will explore various locations in the country to gather true stories about heroic children who are 15 years and under; who have at one time or the other performed exceptional acts of bravery and heroism.
This year, two search agencies, Mark Analytics & Amp; Research Services Ltd and BanahGrace Researc Agency has been engaged to comb the country to seek out young heroes for recognition.
The field search exercise will last for seven weeks to give ample time for the search process which will take place in 12 states spread across Nigeria. The states include Lagos, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Abia, and Anambra which represent the southern region while Kano, Jigawa, Kogi, Nassarawa, Taraba, and Gombe represent the North.
The initiative, Ashiwaju said, is in line with the core values and deep-rooted beliefs of the company, adding that, “Every child possesses an innate ability to achieve greatness. This is something we develop and encourage as a brand even during this Covid-19 period.”
“We strongly believe in this initiative. This is one of the ways we sow into the future of Nigeria because when you support the Nigerian child, you are invariably investing in the future of the country.”
Ashiwaju however added that to allow every heroic act in the country to get a shot at being publicly awarded, the search exercise would not be limited to the field search alone.
Other methods through which entries could be submitted include online through Indomie’s website, social media platforms, and email addresses calls to designated phone lines, and hand delivery of letters at the project office. These avenues are all geared towards gathering more entries from every nook and cranny of the country for the 13th edition of IIDA.
So far, IIDA has produced a total of 42 winners who were rewarded with scholarships worth several millions of naira.
