No fewer than 400 children across the country have entered for the 2018 Indomie Independence Day Award (IIDA).
This was disclosed as the company announced that it has concluded the search for this year’s contest.
IIDA is an annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity organised every October by Dufil Prima Foods, to identify, celebrate and reward Nigerian children for unique acts of bravery in three categories: Physical Bravery, Intellectual Bravery and Social Bravery.
The 2018 edition of the award is supported by TVC Communications and Stanbic IBTC.
Like the previous years, the organisers said that three winners, one from each award category, would be rewarded with educational scholarship worth millions of naira.
During the search, two independent research agencies – Marks Analytics & Research Services Ltd and BanahGrace Research Agency, were engaged to thoroughly comb the country and fish out outstanding young heroes for recognition.
The field search exercise, which lasted for over eight weeks, took place majorly in 12 states: Lagos, Ondo, Rivers, Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Abia, Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Jos and Benue states.
While it lasted, the search exercise explored various locations in the country to gather and verify stories about heroic children who are 15 years and below.
Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said that the company appreciated the energy that went into the search and the great interest received from members of the public.
He explained further: “Now that the search has ended, we are moving into the next phase of the award,which is the verification and simulation of the stories . So far, a total of 37 children, who displayed courage despite dangers and personal injury to themselves have been rewarded. This year, we are adding three nominees to that number and we are not leaving anyone behind. Every deserving child from every social economic class across Nigeria is being considered.”
On her part, Principal Consultant, BanahGrace, one of the Independent Research Agencies, tasked with the 2018 exercise, Abiola Olanipekun, said the said process was thorough, adding that the exercise dug up over 400 heroic stories.
“Our search revealed that several Nigerian children are doing amazing things. And there is no better platform to recognise them than through IIDA”.
Managing Partner/Principal Consultant of Mark Analytics & Research Services, Mr. Magnus Adiele, added that serious efforts were made to verify every story with eye witnesses and other available records.
