Nine pupils who won the national Toyota Dream Car Art contest in the 2024 (17th) edition have been recognised by Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL).
According to Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, Managing Director of TNL, the nine drawings made by the nine winners were also transported to Japan to compete against other winning drawings from around the world.
According to a statement from TNL, the most recent national winners were honoured at a lavish ceremony hosted at the company’s head office in Lagos, where they also received corporate gifts, premium computers, and diplomas.
Four winners are Corona School in Lagos pupils, two from Abuja-based Loyola Jesuit College, two from Avi-Cenna International School, and one from Vivian-Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos. This year, female contestants won all the categories.
The competition, organised for schoolchildren worldwide by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) 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 Gbagada, Lagos, won the coveted prize, beating other contestants from over 90 countries.
His drawing, Waste Converter, which focuses on helping countries, especially African communities, produce food and ensure a clean environment, was adjudged the best globally in his age category.
All nine current winners were invited to present their drawings and the ideas behind them before receiving their prizes and certificates.
The three winners in the first category, 7 years and below are all Corona School pupils: Wuraola Aderinsola Onaolapo (1st position), Myra Oyindamola Omokunga (2nd position), and Pemisire Zara Abayomi-John (3rd position).
For the 8-11 years category, the winners are Oluwalani Tamara Oshinubi (1st position), Sochikaima Nwizu (2nd position) and Vivian Ugooma Emeh (3rd position).
And in the third category for 12-15 years, Juditha Sree Reddyvari (1st position), Jiajia Miao (2nd position), and Ayopelumi Modupe Aboderin (3rd position) were unveiled.
Ade-Ojo explained 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 said, “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 start 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.”
The event’s high point was a special recognition given to the art teachers of the winning students.
