10-year-old Nigerian pupil Oluwademilade Odumuboni, hailing from Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, has emerged as the global grand prize winner of the prestigious 2022/23 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.
Master Odumuboni's visionary artwork, featuring a waste converter designed to aid food production and maintain a clean environment, was chosen as the finest globally. This young artist's concept stood out among 782,852 submissions from participants spanning 90 countries.
In recognition of his exceptional achievement, Oluwademilade Odumuboni was presented with a grand prize package that includes $5,000 in prize money, a commemorative plaque, and an official certificate.
Notably, his school, Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, was also honored for nurturing such a talented young artist, receiving a generous award of $10,000. The Managing Director of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, praised Odumuboni's creativity, noting that it had placed him firmly on the global stage.
Ade-Ojo commented, "His unique and truly inspirational idea expressed in an equally creative drawing earned him a global grand prize in the contest, beating over 782,852 contestants from 90 countries/regions. This way, Toyota is also cultivating a lifetime friendship with all these children while encouraging them to care for our planet and push their imagination beyond limits."
The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is an annual global initiative organized by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan, aimed at inspiring young minds worldwide to unleash their creative expression and artistic potential. Participants from Nigeria and other countries compete in various age categories, with nine national winners representing Nigeria. These winners then compete on the international stage in Japan, where Oluwademilade Odumuboni triumphed as one of the three global grand prize winners.
Henrietta Eguagie, the Head Teacher of Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, praised Odumuboni's remarkable achievement, describing it as a moment of glory for the school. She also expressed gratitude to Toyota for fostering creativity among young individuals and pledged to use the prize money for the benefit of the students' learning experiences and development.
Oluwademilade Odumuboni's success serves as a shining example of the immense talent and creativity that young Nigerians possess, and his waste converter concept holds the promise of a brighter, more sustainable future.
