Nigerian lad, Oluwademilade Odumuboni wins Toyota drawing contest
Meet Oluwademilade Odumuboni, a 10-year-old superstar from Nigeria who rocked the world with his incredible imagination! and won the global grand prize in the 2022–23 edition of the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.
Oluwademilade Odumuboni, a pupil of Corona School in Gbagada, Lagos, Nigeria, emerged as the global grand prize winner in the 2022–23 Toyota Dream Car Art Contest. He competed against 782,852 other contestants from 90 countries.
The contest is organized annually by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan for schoolchildren worldwide. The challenge is to draw their dream cars with a free idea.
Oluwademilade’s winning concept was a waste compactor vehicle (converter) designed to help African communities with food production and maintain a clean environment.
He was honored and presented with a cash prize of $5,000, a plaque, and a certificate at a special ceremony organized by Toyota Nigeria Limited on behalf of TMC Japan. His school, Corona, received a $10,000 prize, and his art teacher, Mr. Ojeagbega Oserogho, received a laptop for his role in helping Oluwademilade achieve his goal.
The Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, expressed pride in Oluwademilade’s achievement and highlighted that this win put Toyota Nigeria at the forefront of distributors globally.
The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest aims to encourage children to imagine a peaceful world and promote a friendly society while fostering a lifelong connection with them and inspiring care for the planet.
In Nigeria, three winners are chosen from each of the three age categories, making nine national winners. These winners’ drawings are then sent to Japan to compete with entries from all over the world.
Oluwademilade’s achievement not only earned him a cash prize but also a certificate and trophy from Toyota Nigeria Limited.
The Head Teacher of Corona School, Henrietta Eguagie, praised Oluwademilade for bringing glory to the school and commended Toyota for inspiring young people’s creative expression.
The school plans to utilize the prize money for various educational purposes, including the establishment of the Toyota Dream Car Endowment Fund and art-related initiatives.
Oluwademilade expressed his gratitude to Toyota Nigeria Limited and TMC Japan for the opportunity to express himself through art. He also thanked his school, art teachers, and parents for their support and emphasized the value of hard work and perseverance.
This story showcases the power of creativity and determination in achieving global recognition and highlights the positive impact of initiatives that encourage and nurture young talents. Oluwademilade’s success serves as an inspiration to children worldwide to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.
Simha Asuquo contributes from Lagos, Nigeria