Heroes Awards: Dufil Commences Search for Exceptional Children  

Uchechukwu Nnaike 

Dufil Prima Foods Ltd, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, has launched the 16th edition of its corporate social responsibility initiative, the Indomie Heroes Awards, with a call for entries. 

The initiative seeks to identify, recognise, celebrate, and reward the positive and heroic efforts of children aged 15 years and below.

The annual Indomie Heroes Awards has become a source of inspiration, celebrating the selflessness and bravery of young heroes across the country.

This year’s edition, tagged ‘Unsung Heroes’, will feature a collection of captivating and inspiring stories from different states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The company said commendable acts of physical, social, and intellectual bravery had often gone unnoticed and uncelebrated until it introduced the programme.

Briefing journalists in Lagos, the Group Corporate Communications and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Ltd, Temitope Ashiwaju, disclosed that the field search exercise has already kicked off. Online submissions commenced on May 9, 2024, and will continue until June 30, 2024. 

He said all entries will be subjected to a screening process, and a team of credible judges will select the winners in a final selection process.

“The Indomie Heroes Award is dedicated to acknowledging heroic feats achieved by Nigerian children, effectively investing in the future of our nation,” noted Ashiwaju. “Our commitment over the past 16 years as a company to positively impact the lives of our core consumers, children, remains steadfast.”

According to him, the company created the social responsibility initiative in 2008 to shine the spotlight on the Nigerian child. 

“This award is to recognise children who have, against all odds, exhibited extraordinary acts of bravery in the face of danger and societal challenges which have sometimes even brought them injury. The award seeks to extol the exemplary accomplishments of children who have shown courage and determination in situations that ordinarily would bring fear. It is also meant to encourage excellence, reward merit and inspire selflessness and patriotism in our youngsters,” he said.

The 2024 edition of the award will include three categories: physical bravery, intellectual bravery, and social bravery. Three children will be awarded winners, and each deserving recipient will receive N1.5 million, among other rewards.

Explaining the categories, Ashiwaju said the physical bravery award is for children who have shown physical bravery in a challenging situation, and, at great personal risk, have saved lives or extensive damage to property or others by their actions. 

He said the social bravery award is for those who have inspired a community and worked against social evils such as child marriage, illiteracy, and environmental concerns.

For the intellectual bravery category, he said the child nominee must have used a brilliant mind to provide an innovative solution to a problem.

Ashiwaju urged parents, guardians, teachers and the public to submit inspiring stories of young heroes who they feel have demonstrated exceptional bravery. He also emphasised that in addition to the ongoing field exercise meant to ensure that the initiative covers remote areas to encourage submissions from every corner of Nigeria, entries can be submitted through the Indomie Nigeria’s website, the Indomie Heroes Awards dedicated website, or calls to designated phone lines.

The National Coordinator for Indomie Fan Club, Karishma Rustagi, underscored the vital role the media plays in amplifying the notable achievements of children in society and pointed out that by spotlighting deserving children and their remarkable deeds, the media contributes significantly to honouring the true heroes.

Over the last 16 years, the Indomie Heroes Awards has produced 52 winners who were rewarded with scholarships worth several millions of naira from the brand and well-meaning Nigerians who developed interest after hearing their stories. The award of scholarships has helped winners overcome certain financial constraints that may have adversely affected their educational pursuits and life goals.