Lagos teenager wins Toyota Global Contest, surpasses 782,852 contestants from 90 countries
In a remarkable achievement, 10-year-old Nigerian student, Oluwademilade Odumuboni, has emerged as the global grand prize winner of the prestigious 2022/23 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.
Oluwademilade, a pupil at Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, triumphed over an impressive pool of 782,852 contestants from 90 countries to claim the coveted prize in the 2022/2023 edition of the contest.
The young prodigy’s winning artwork showcased his creative concept of a waste converter aimed at improving food production and maintaining a clean environment, particularly in African communities.
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Oluwademilade was presented with a prize package that included $5,000, a plaque, and a certificate at a special event organised by Toyota Nigeria Limited.
Additionally, his school received a generous grant of $10,000.
Kunle Ade-Ojo, the Managing Director of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, commended Oluwademilade’s exceptional ingenuity and emphasized how his achievement has put him on the global map.
“He demonstrated unique and truly inspirational ideas through his creative drawing, which earned him the global grand prize, surpassing over 782,852 contestants from 90 countries/regions,” Ade-Ojo stated.
Ade-Ojo further explained that in Nigeria, three winners are selected annually from each age category: Category 1 (children not older than seven years), Category 2 (8-11 years), and Category 3 (12-15 years). These nine national winners then compete with drawings from around the world.
“Our Demilade is one of these three grand prize winners globally. He has been awarded $5,000, and his school, Corona School, Gbagada, has been awarded $10,000,” Ade-Ojo added.
Henrietta Eguagie, the Head Teacher of Corona School, expressed her admiration for Oluwademilade’s exceptional achievement, noting that his victory has brought great pride to the school.
She also lauded Toyota for their initiative in encouraging young individuals to unleash their artistic potential and foster creative expression.
“As one of Nigeria’s leading educational institutions, we are committed to utilising this prize money in a way that directly benefits the learning experiences and development of our students,” Eguagie affirmed.
