1,200 children have emerged recipients of awards for good values in the maiden edition of the Ribena Good Values Awards, an initiative of Ribena, one of the leading nutritional fruit drinks from the stables of Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria Ltd. The event was held in Lagos at the weekend.
The Ribena Good Values Program is an intra-school program aimed at entrenching good values and healthy living among young ones in schools across Nigeria.
Selected from various participating schools, the 1,200 children were awarded on a pedigree of the good values and exemplary character they have inculcated from The Ribena Bridges to Goodness School Project.
The Ribena Bridges to Goodness School Project was birthed out of the recently launched new brand positioning campaign of Ribena – ‘Goodness made Fun’. A campaign launched in an effort to inspire children to make the right value-based choices that would mould them into better individuals and citizens in future and have fun while doing so.
While delivering the keynote address at the event, the Managing Director, Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Chinedum Okereke said “The future of any nation or entity lies heavily on the children, whatever legacy we pass on, whether good or bad could make or mar us as a nation. We therefore must rise up to our responsibility as parents, guardians, schools, and government to ensure that good values and characters are inculcated in these young ones from a tender age”.
“In many instances, rewards and prizes are handed out for excellent performance in academics and sports, with little recognition for exhibiting good values and character. Ribena through this Good Values Awards identifies and spotlights deserving pupils and students who really make a difference and go beyond the compulsory or convenient to help others overcome obstacles, and live with integrity.
“This award is specially designed to honour and inspire these young kids whose lives and activities demonstrate an enduring commitment to quality values associated with exemplary character, he added.”
The highpoint of the event was the awarding of the 1,200 recipients of the Ribena Good Values Awards which made parents and school representatives proud. The exciting event also featured brilliant performances from Deechords Academy and Xplicit Dancers.
A visibly elated Marketing Director, Suntory Beverage and Food Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Rosemary Akpo, expressed delight at the success of the event stating that the programme is an initiative that is strategically important particularly now that young people in Nigeria are faced with several negative influences (from the society, peers, internet etc) and security issues, which are challenging their development.
According to Akpo the initiative will go a long way in helping to mould right leaders for tomorrow. “We are working at ensuring the Ribena Good Values School programme spreads across the nation and that is why we are partnering with Bridges To Goodness Projects in this first of its kind, program. We are proud that we are supporting the efforts of the parents, guardians and the government to produce young people that will grow with the kind of values that will positively affect lives and also make them relevant in the scheme of national development” Akpo said.
Two awardees each were selected from over 600 private schools in Lagos making the total of 1,200 children awarded as worthy ambassadors of Ribena good values and character program.
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This maiden edition of the Ribena Good Values Awards had in attendance over 3,500 children, parents and various schools proprietors and proprietress. Also in attendance was Mrs. Aderonke Solomon the representative of the First Lady of Lagos State and the Director, Private Education and Special Programmes, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ajoke Gbeleyi who ably represented the Deputy Governor of Lagos State alongside other crème de la crème of the society and people from all works of life.
The Ribena Good Values Program is a long term program that has come to stay and will be roled out continuously in years to come
