Parents hail Toyota (Nigeria) Limited at 18th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest Award ceremony

Parents whose children recently won prizes at the 18th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest award ceremony have expressed profound gratitude to Toyota (Nigeria) Limited for giving the young stars the platform to show their talents and excel.

The presentation of awards by the TNL to the latest winners of the Toyota Dream Car Art Contest will remain memorable in the minds of the beneficiaries, parents and teachers of the pupils.
The event held specifically on March 8, 2025 at the corporate headquarters of the company in Lekki, Lagos, was indeed a day of celebration and glitz for all.
It was exciting not only for all the winners but their parents, siblings, well-wishers and staff of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited that graced the occasion.

Mr Shoniran, who spoke on behalf of all parents present, he expressed a deep appreciation for what Toyota had done for the children.

He said, “The exposure would further help to boost the confidence of the budding artists.”

He added that TNL had given all winners a strong pedestal to showcase their talent while thanking the company for this life-time opportunity and the valuable gifts presented to them.

Three (3) children emerged national winners from each category, making it nine (9) winners altogether at the national level and were properly celebrated and given awards.
The award was keenly contested in three categories vis: 7 years and under; 8 – 11 years and 12 -15 years.
A total of 680 (Six hundred and eighty) children were recorded to have taken part in the contest at the competition centres in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Entries (drawings) of winners from over 92 countries (including Nigeria) around the world are sent to Japan to compete at the global level.
Managing Director of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited, Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo, in his welcome address, congratulated all winners, saying, “The annual Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is a keenly contested competition by children from all over Nigeria and it is one of the Corporate Social responsibility activities of the company that has won the heart of many children in the nation.
“TNL is happy to organise this annual event as it presents the opportunity for budding artists to express their ideas in living colours.
“It is a medium to help them build their confidence in the expression of arts and to create lasting memories with and for them; sweet memories and a lasting relationship with the brand.”
He commended all winners for earning a place in the keenly contested and coveted competition.
Dai Zi Wen came first in the Age 7 and under category; Ethan Oluwafolahanmi Enilolobo emerged second, while Oritsetsemaye Eguando came third.
Nina Adanna Nwamuo came first in the 8 – 11 years category; Precious Chidera Aroh came second while Gabrielle Silver Oludayo came third.
In the 12 –15 years category, Shalom Jesujuwon Shoniran came first; Samuel Chima Okonkwo came second, while Jasmine Xiaoli Deng came third.
All winners made a detailed presentation of their artwork which typified futuristic and ingenious ideas, geared towards making the world a better place to live in.
All the winners were presented with a high-quality personal computer laptop and loads of corporate gifts. Responding on behalf of all the winners, Nina Nwamuo thanked Toyota (Nigeria) Limited for providing all contestants such a veritable platform to express their God-given talent.
She also thanked their Art teachers and parents for their guidance, support and encouragement.
She expressed gratitude for the laptop gifts and other corporate goodies that the TNL gave them.
Nwamuo prayed that TNL would “grow from strength to strength”.
Some Art teachers that have consistently over the years helped to shape the style, quality of artwork and guided the children in actualizing their ideas on paper were also recognized. One of such Art teachers is Mr. Oserogho Ojeagbega who also tutored Oluwademilade David Odumuboni, the gifted boy artist that won on the global stage at the 16th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.
Some other art teachers that were similarly recognized were Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Arabambi Daramola, Mr. Oluwatobi Famuyiwa, Mrs. Edith Odedokun and Mr. Samuel Allen-Taylor. Each of the five teachers went home with a commendation plaque and N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira) for their commitment to the contest over the years.
The event also featured a special celebration of the birthday of one of the winners, Samuel Okonkwo, whose birthday it was on the Awards ceremony day, 8th March, 2025.
TNL presented him with a birthday cake which he cut with glee and the support of his happy parents, joined by Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, MD, TNL, while the birthday song was sung for him by all attendees.
He said, “Toyota made my birthday extra special for me and I will never forget today as long as I live. Thank you, Toyota Nigeria. You are simply the best.”

The ceremony ended with an elaborate entertainment for all that attended, and everyone went home with a corporate gift.

UK varsity gives £10K scholarships to 85 Int’l postgraduate students

Durham University, in the UK, is offering 85 £10,000 scholarships to international students applying for select postgraduate programmes for the 2025/26 academic year.

The Inspiring Excellence £10K Scholarship seeks to support high-achieving students by reducing tuition fees for eligible Master’s courses.

Durham University has confirmed the availability of 85 scholarships for postgraduate students who meet specific criteria.

The scholarship is open to international, self-funded students who demonstrate strong academic achievements and the potential to make an impact on a global scale after graduation. The £10,000 award will be applied as a reduction in tuition fees.

Eligible programmes for the £10K scholarship 

The scholarship is available for students applying to seven specific one-year Master’s programmes at Durham University. These include:

• MSc Biotechnology
• MSc Advanced Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)
• MSc Law and Finance
• MSc Public Policy
• MSc Advanced Computer Science
• MSc International Business
• MSc Islamic Finance

Applicants must submit their applications for one of these courses to be considered for the scholarship.

Requirements and criteria for the scholarship 

To qualify for the Inspiring Excellence £10K Scholarship, applicants must meet several criteria. You must:

• Have applied to one of the following seven master’s programmes specified above for September 2025
• Meet or exceed the entry requirements for the programme applied for at Durham University
• Be classed as an overseas student for fee-paying purposes
• Self-funded and not supported by an external sponsor or already in receipt of any other scholarship (from the university or externally)
• Complete the Inspiring Excellence 10K postgraduate scholarships application form by April 30th, 2025 (for 1st Selection) and 08th June 2025 (for 2nd Selection)
• Have received an offer for a Master’s programme at Durham University by May 4th, 2025 (for 1st Selection) and 08th June 8th 2025 (for 2nd Selection)

Application process and key dates 

First, applicants must apply to one of the eligible programmes through Durham University’s online portal, and ensure that they have submitted an academic application, with all supporting documents , via the postgraduate online application portal for one of the eligible programmes.

Details inform that applicants will need to have received an offer (conditional or unconditional) for the programme they applied to at Durham by:

• May 4th, 2025 for 1st round scholarship selection
• June 8th, 2025 for 2nd round scholarship selection

Complete & submit the scholarship form by the deadlines 

In addition to submitting the academic application above, complete the Inspiring Excellence 10K Scholarship Online Application by these 2 deadlines:

• 1st Selection: April 30th, 2025
• 2nd Selection: June 8th, 2025

According to the institution,

“If you fail to receive an academic offer before the deadline for the 1st round selection, or you are unsuccessful in the 1st round selection,  you will be automatically considered for the 2nd round selection. You do not need to submit the scholarship application form again.”

The university also warns that Scholars who suspend their Scholarship Commitments or academic studies will have all future scholarship discounts cancelled. It is stated that only those under exceptional circumstances e.g. medical reasons, and at the sole discretion of the Faculty Executive Dean, approval may be given for discounts to recommence after suspended studies continue.

UK varsity gives £10K scholarships to 85 Int’l postgraduate students

FG proposes extending NYSC to two years

The Nigerian government has put forward a proposal to extend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme from one year to two, citing the need for enhanced skills development and a boost to youth employment.

This initiative aims to expand the NYSC’s Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, providing corps members with more hands-on skills for job creation and contributing to national growth.

The proposal was shared during a courtesy visit by the NYSC’s Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, in Abuja. A statement detailing the meeting was issued by Caroline Embu, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations at the NYSC.

“You have done so well as an organisation. Let NYSC give people more opportunity to become job creators that will meet the needs of the country,” the Minister remarked.

Dr. Alausa also acknowledged the NYSC’s innovative and digitalised approach to the mobilization process, which has helped tackle certificate fraud involving foreign-trained graduates across West Africa. He commended the Scheme for resolving the issue of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) part-time graduates who earned full-time Higher National Diplomas (HND) but had previously been exempted from national service.

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“Efforts are ongoing in the Ministry to digitise the verification of foreign-trained graduates of Nigerian origin,” he added, emphasizing the ongoing collaboration between the Ministry and the NYSC to advance education and national progress. Additionally, Dr. Alausa advocated for increasing the deployment of graduate teachers to rural areas to address staffing shortages in schools.

Earlier, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu reiterated the NYSC’s dedication to aligning with national reforms and policies.

“NYSC is ready to comply with policy guidelines as directed by the Federal Government. We are also trying to reform the Scheme to conform with the present national needs,” he stated.

Nafiu also called for the establishment of a comprehensive database to track Nigerian students abroad. He explained, “This would help the government and stakeholders in the education sector to have detailed records of Nigerian students abroad and eliminate fake graduates.”

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, assured continued support for the NYSC’s initiatives, stating, “We are ready to work with NYSC more effectively towards uplifting the standard of education in the country.”

FG proposes extending NYSC to two years