As the preparations for the 10th edition of the Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA) hits top gear, host company, Dufil Prima Foods, has unveiled the faces of the judges who will decide the fate of the over 180 contestants vying for the ‘hero’ status.
According to the Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, the judges, numbering seven, were expected to sit next week Tuesday and do justice to the top 24 stories already picked by the selection committee to choose the best 10 who will wear the crown.
 The award categories range from “Intellectual, physical and social bravery and exploits.â€
Ashiwaju identified the judges as Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph Newspaper and President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mrs. Funke Egbemode; Founder of Hearts of Gold Children Hospice, Mrs. Laja Adedoyin; a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Managing Partner of Abiola Sanni and Co., Prof. Abiola Sanni; Founder of Rise Networks, Social Entrepreneur and Human Development expert, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji; ex-Ben TV, London Director, Mr. Gbola Oba; the National Director, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Mr. Eghosa Erhumwunse and MD/CEO of Rave TV & Trend FM, Mrs. Agatha Amata.
The company noted that the distinguished judges were carefully selected based on their proven credibility and integrity.
“IIDA is a credible initiative and so we have carefully selected reputable and distinguished men and women from different spheres of life, based on their integrity, vast experience and reputation in the society, to help in picking the final 10 winners,†Ashiwaju said.
He added that a verification team were in the field to authenticate, validate and simulate the selected 24 stories, which would later be examined by the judges in arriving at the best 10 for each award category.
This year’s edition of the award being the 10th is specially packaged to accommodate 10 winners instead of the usual 3 to celebrate the initiative’s 10th year. Winners will be rewarded with millions of naira worth of scholarship.
The IIDA initiative is a national event which extols the exemplary accomplishments of children who have shown courage and determination in situations that ordinarily would bring fear.
In the last nine years, 27 winners have emerged and have not stopped sharing their life-changing testimonies by virtue of the initiative.
