The Federal Government has said that children who show acts of bravery, be it intellectual, physical or socially thus impacting the lives of others, should be acknowledged and rewarded so that they will continue to do more.
Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, stated this at the conferment of a one million naira scholarship award by Dufil Prima Foods Limited to three Nigerian children in recognition of their social, physical and intellectual bravery.
The minister said, “The award is worthy of emulation, as it is capable of spurring other children in the country, not only into heroic acts but also in developing social consciousness about acceptable norms and values that shape the culture, religious, ethnic and diversity of the Nigerian people.”
In a communiqué made public by the Head of Press & Public Relations of the ministry, Grace Njoku, Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye said that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is fully committed to the welfare and the development of the Nigerian child, women and persons living with disabilities in the society with a view to giving them a sense of belonging.
She informed that the ministry under her watch will continue to collaborate and join hands with relevant stakeholders towards the realization of this policy objective of government
While commending the Dufil Prima Foods for their consistency in recognizing exceptional Nigerian children since 2008, she called on other corporate bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations, (NGOs), as well as well-meaning Nigerians to key-into such lofty initiatives and join hands with the Federal government in the development of the Nigerian child.
The 2023 edition of the Dufil Prima Foods Limited awards ceremony saw Helen Emmanuel from Ikot Usong, Akwa Ibom State, receiving the Social Bravery award for standing up and fighting for a 13-year-old girl that was molested and impregnated by her father in the State, Happiness Bassey, also from Ikot Usong, Akwa Ibom State was awarded the Physical Bravery award for stopping her mother from selling her younger brother while Ferdinand Maumo, from Makoko, Lagos State, a Physically challenged, with Spastic Cerebral Palsy was conferred with the Intellectual Bravery award for demonstrating an exceptional understanding of chess through pattern recognition.
