May 27: Solution Media plans big for creative kids

 Adeyeloye Lipede

Young talents will be at work in Lagos on May 27 when Solutions Media and Infoech Limited will hold the second edition of its High Impact for Creative Kids. The event marking the Children’s Day will reward winners with cash prizes and a trip to Canada.

According to Solution Media’s Managing Director, Mr. Adeyeloye Lipede, the programme holding at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos aims at rewarding and encouraging the creative spirit in children within the educational system.

The star prize is a five-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Canada to the overall best winning secondary school. There are also cash prizes of N750,000 and N500,000 for runner-ups.

In the primary school category, the first, second and third positions will attract N5000,000; N350,000; and N250,000 respectively.

Noting that cash award will be presented to 15 serving teachers and five retired ones – as determined by the Lagos State Ministry of Education — Lipede says over 100 schools will take part in the programme. He notes that Solution Media believes all relevant parties should be inspired to develop innate potential of children and youths.

“We want to appreciate where we are coming from,” Lipede explains. “I remember when we were growing up. On May 27, the Children’s Day, we would all appear in our best dresses. We engaged in march past, won awards and our teachers were always there for us. But you would observe that things have changed generally.

“In the past decade, for instance, many pupils have not been experiencing this. In most schools, they just observe the holiday, stay at home, without having an opportunity to engage in creative activities. But with High Impact for Creative Kids, we are trying to recreate the tempo. And what we experienced last year showed that we are indeed on the right path.”

While seasoned artiste, Onyeka Onwenu, was the head of the jury in 2013, the winning group from Redeemers College were taken to Dubai. They won with a dance drama, with Lipede saying judges for this year will be unveiled at the event.

On why the winners will be taken to Canada this year, he says the country has a lot of standard places of interest.

“We have approached the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria and it has keyed into the programme. The High Commission appreciates what we are doing and we are happy that the Deputy High Commissioner will be our chairman on May 27,” he adds.

On the issue of security and safety, Lipede explains that policemen – including anti-bomb squad – private and corporate security outfits, health personnel and ambulances have been accordingly arranged.