FOR using their talents in the fight against malaria, via arts competition, 12 young artists were recognized during an art competition “Creative kids against Malaria”, which took place Victoria Island Secondary School (Kuramo Senior College).

The students, ranging from age nine to 14, participated in the competition organized as part of ExxonMobil’s long-term commitment to Roll Back Malaria in Nigeria. Malaria is responsible for more than 300,000 preventable deaths every year.

The competition honoured children and youth in 2 categories: “Draw the lines against malaria” - a drawing Competition for Primary School Students; and “Write off malaria” - an essay Competition for Secondary School Students. Both competitions were organized to raise awareness about malaria and its effects.

From the senior category of the drawing competition, Keji Omotosho, Ashimu, and Janet Stephen emerged the first, second and the third position. In the senior category of the essay writing, Abiola Nihinlola, Oyeneyin Mary, and Chika Kelechukwu, all from the Methodist Girls High School, Lagos, emerged the first, second and the third position.

The Creative Kids Fight Malaria Art Competition opened on World Malaria Day and generated a total of 80 essay entries and 107 drawings from across Lagos and beyond. An independent panel representing ExxonMobil staff judged the entries.

The Public and Government Affairs, ExxonMobil, Omawumi Gomwalk, in her remarks expressed her satisfaction with the level of effort and detail the children put into their works.  “Creative art has always been an important medium for information sharing and these children clearly communicate the importance of protecting themselves and their families. It is very encouraging”.

The Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), facilitated the competition - a Nigerian NGO dedicated to introducing innovative and effective development strategies that foster growth and development in Nigeria. Through its ‘Grazrutsoka’ program - another ExxonMobil sponsored effort - YEDI has carried out interventions in over 100 schools in Lagos state, and has graduated over 5,000 youths from its life and coping skills programs. It has also empowered about 120 youths to become Peer Educators, and provided them with opportunities to nurture their skills and achieve their full potential.

The initiator of YEDI, Charlotte Obidairo, commended the efforts of the children for using their own little way to fight the malaria scourge; she noted that, with this initiative, awareness against malaria would definitely be on the high side.