TOYOTA BOOSTS CREATIVE TALENTS IN CHILDREN WITH THE DREAM CAR ART CONTEST

Between the last quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Japan in conjunction with its distributors across the world organized an art contest tagged The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest (TDCAC) amongst students. The essence of this includes cultivating creative prowess of children while they are young.

Eligible to participate in the national contest were Students in the Secondary and Primary schools cutting across three different age categories viz: Category one: children under 10 years, Category 2: ages 10 to 12 and Category 3: ages 13 to 15.

Each category was expected to produce 5 winning entries which would be sent to Japan to contest with entries from other parts of the world. The over all winner in each category will have the opportunity to travel to Japan to attend the award ceremony which will feature presentation of Special Jury’s Award as well as World’s Finalist Award.

Some primary and secondary schools in the public and private sectors across the six geo political zones of Nigeria majorly from Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Ibadan and Port Harcourt took part in the thrilling contest.

At the end of the exercise, over 200 entries from participants were collated and a panel of Creative Arts professionals was constituted to do a careful selection using environmental friendliness, safety and futuristic as yardsticks for selection.   

Finally 15 best entries were selected by the panel and the owners of the shortlisted entries later converged at Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Lekki, Lagos to receive their certificates of excellence from the Managing Director Mr. Chandrasheker Krishnadas Thampy ably assisted by the General Manager, Operations, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo.

In addition to the certificates, the children were presented with mini lap tops and other beautiful corporate gifts that would make the memory of the contest indelible on their minds for a long time to come.

Professor Sam Ugbomoiko, a parent of one of the finalists described Toyota as a standard setter in Nigeria. In his opinion, cultivating children’s creative genius early in their lifetime will not only stimulate unparalleled academic excellence but also energize the passion for creativity and arts in them. He submitted further that this gesture on the part of Toyota is tantamount to opening a novel vista in the realm of knowledge impartation and mental development of children across the world in general and in Nigeria in particular. The exercise, he added will go a long way in creating emotional bonds of sorts between the brand and the participating children thereby making Toyota the brand of the future. At this juncture Professor Sam Ugbomoiko enjoined other corporate bodies to emulate this initiative.

While thanking the children for participating in the contest as well as their parents for accompanying the children to the certificate/gifts presentation ceremony, the Public Relations Manager, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Mrs. Bukunola Ogunnusi wished the participants luck and expressed hope that at least one of the entries should be among the winners when the result is announced come May 2011 in Japan.

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