A pupil of Corona School, Gbagada, Lagos, Miss Precious Aroh, has been named Best Finalist in the 18th Toyota Dream Car Art Contest.

Miss Aroh was selected from over 660,000 contestants worldwide and awarded $3,000 from Toyota Motor Corporation.

The award was presented to Precious, her parents, and school representatives in Lagos by Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria Limited Kunle Ade-Ojo.

Ade-Ojo praised the young artist’s ingenuity. He said: “Precious’s artistry and vision have again placed Nigeria on a global stage. Her masterpiece is a powerful concept that imagines a world free of illness and viruses like COVID-19. She has shown empathy and a brilliant imagination, turning a compelling idea into outstanding creation. She made Nigeria, TNL, and her school proud.”

According to him, Miss Aroh’s achievement echoed the historic win two years ago by David Odumuboni, the first Nigerian to win a Global Grand Prize in the same competition.

“It is a remarkable coincidence and a testament to the nurturing environment of their shared school that these talents hail from the same place,” he said.

The managing director also congratulated her art teacher and parents, noting their “unwavering support and encouragement.”

She said: “My dream car is called Virus Vacuum, the dream car of clean air. It has special suction vents on top that pull harmful viruses out of the air. Once inside the car, the viruses are destroyed, leaving clean, safe, and fresh air for people to breathe. The car is my dream for a healthier world, a car that not only carries people but also cares for people and heals the environment.”

Precious will use the money, designated for educational pursuits, to buy books, art materials, and digital learning tools to help her improve her creativity.

In addition to the money, Precious got a shield from Toyota Motor Corporation, with a certificate and a trophy from Toyota Nigeria.

Toyota Dream Car Art Contest is a global Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Toyota Motor Corporation to inspire children to imagine a future car and, in doing so, foster a creative and caring mindset towards the planet.