A 15-year-old orphan, Olufunmilayo Bello and two other children have won the fifth edition of the Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria for their “creative and distinctive initiatives.”
Bello emerged the first prize winner, second position went to George Sadoh, 15, while 10-year-old Princess Esan won the third position.
For their efforts, the three heroic kids went home with a crystal plaque and cash prize of N1m, N.75m and N.5m respectively for their bravery and acts of heroism.
The contest is sponsored annually by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles as part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility to motivate children to contribute to the wellbeing of others.
Olufunmilayo, who lives in an orphanage in Benin, was adjudged the best by the panel of judges for her selfless act of saving the life of a deformed and abandoned baby, named Zaccheaus in spite of all discouragement.
After she rescued the baby, Olufunmilayo took her to her orphanage where she prevailed on the proprietor to take in the poor boy for proper care.
Sadoh from Warri, Delta State, came second for his brave and courageous act of saving a man who was being robbed by scaring away the robbers with ‘knockouts.’ The courageous boy later took the man to the hospital.
Esan got the third position for saving her brother’s life when fire gutted their home at great risk to herself.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Deepak Singhal, had noted that the annual award was an expression of the firm’s belief in the extraordinary qualities of the Nigerian child. This, he said, must never be ignored but celebrated.
While congratulating the winners, he admonished them to live a life of a hero through selflessness and acts of bravery.
He urged other Nigerian children to emulate them by aspiring to be heroes by exhibiting even greater acts of heroism.
Delivering the keynote address titled ‘51 years Post Independence-The Future of the Nigerian Child,’ former Speaker of Lagos Assembly, Senator Olorunibe Mamora, decried the present situation of the Nigerian child.
He said that all stakeholders including the family, school, the religious organisations and the government had failed to give the deserved attention to their well-being and grooming for the future.
He added, “We cannot continue to do the same thing the same way and expect a different result. Therefore, it is high time we realised that the task of ensuring better future for the Nigerian child is a collective responsibility and we must play our individual role either as a parent, school, religious body and the government.”
Presenting the award to the winners, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, lauded Dufil Prima Foods Plc for inspiring the spirit of heroism and patriotism in the children who are the future leaders of the nation.
She admonished other Nigerian children to strive to be heroes.
October 19, 2012 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
0 comments:
Post a Comment