RadioIITA has joined the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s Children’s Day event. The day was established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day. It has been celebrated since then on different dates in several countries. However, in Nigeria, it is marked on May 27 and is observed as a public holiday for children.

The Maiden RadioIITA Annual Children’s Day School Competition, with the Theme ‘Sustainable Future: Youths Leading the Way,’ provided a unique opportunity for students from invited schools to understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of Climate Change, Smart Agriculture, Biodiversity and Conservation, Health and Nutrition, Plant Health, Food Systems, and Security while inspiring them to take action for a sustainable and thriving future.

In her opening remarks, Head of Communication IITA Kathrine Lopez welcomed the students and highlighted that IITA-CGIAR, in its mission over the years, continues to generate agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger and malnutrition while improving livelihoods. She affirmed that the RadioIITA Annual Children’s Day School Competition is one such platform to share Knowledge generated from IITA’s research, change children’s mindsets about Agriculture and environmental sustainability, and inculcate consciousness of how children can be better leaders in the future.

Welcoming children from the schools, Dajie Odok, RadioIITA Lead said that through the event, students will learn about climate change, climate-smart agriculture, protecting nature, plant health, food safety, and nutrition to make the world a better place.

“Fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion among children is crucial for their development and for building a harmonious and progressive society,” according to Lade Oke, IITA Talent Management and Engagement Manager, who engaged the children on the topic of Embracing Diversity and Inclusion.

The need to eat a balanced diet (Colorful plate), vital for children’s overall health and development, was an exciting takeaway lesson for the children after IITA Food and Nutrition Scientist Busie Maziya-Dixon took her turn to speak on a balanced diet.

The children learned of different ways to conserve biodiversity, such as promoting native planting, judicious use of all resources, reducing, reusing, and recycling after Ajayi Ademola from IITA Forest Center explained the importance of taking care of Mother Nature and biodiversity essential for the well-being of planet earth.

Food Safety is everyone’s business, according to Dr. Titi Falade of IITA’s Plant Pathology/Mycotoxin/Aflasafe unit, as the children learned about the importance of Food safety as it helps avoid harmful things like aflatoxin.

Five schools in Oyo State, Nigeria –Amao International Primary School, Hill Crest Elementary School, God’s Divine Model School, Crescent Model School, and Imperial International College—participated in the Radio IITA Annual Children’s Day School Competition. The program featured a debate, quiz, essay writing, poem, and riddles centered on Climate Change/Smart Agriculture, Biodiversity, Nutrition, and Food Systems.

The competitions saw Imperial International College, Sasa, emerge as the winner in three categories: Quiz, Riddle, and Essay Writing. Crescent Model School came second, and Divine Model School secured third place in these categories. Amao International Primary School and Hill Crest Elementary School won the overall awards in Debate and Poetry Recitation, respectively.

RadioIITA aims to engage children in understanding and appreciating the work done by research organizations like IITA through this event. The activities would inspire young participants to act and lead in bringing positive changes to their communities, using science and innovation to improve lives.

The radio plans to continue using such platforms to build awareness and educate the younger generation.

Contributed by Dada Bamise