By Adesina Wahab

The Convener of a non-profit organisation, Shape-A-Child, Izehi Anuge, has emphasised the need to teach values to children so that they will be able to navigate life’s complexities and challenges.

She stated this in Lagos during the final of the values-based jigsaw puzzle competition held for pupils from 35 primary schools in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The eight-week long competition had 210 pupils participating.

“In today’s world, children face numerous challenges along with opportunities. We believe that instilling solid ethical values is crucial to help them navigate life’s complexities. At Shape-A-Child, our mission is to teach children not just about core values, but also to ensure they can apply these lessons in their daily lives.

“Our jigsaw puzzle competition, which started nine weeks ago, addresses pressing societal issues such as sexual abuse, drug abuse, and cultism. Partnering with Trees and Pillars, we use jigsaw puzzles as a metaphor to illustrate the necessity of thoughtful decision-making. Just as each puzzle piece must fit together to form a complete picture, children must learn to make choices aligned with their values.

“The competition emphasized experiential learning, allowing children to develop essential skills such as teamwork, collaboration, focus, and discipline. Each week, participants engaged in activities designed to prompt them to solve metaphorical puzzles, reinforcing the importance of applying values to everyday choices.”

On how the impact of the competition is being documented, she said, “We are collaborating with a research team to gather data on the outcomes of our competition. Our goal is to present evidence to educational authorities that extracurricular activities, such as our jigsaw puzzle competition, play a vital role in enhancing children’s behavior and positively influencing their responses to societal challenges.

” As we conclude this year’s jigsaw puzzle competition, I feel optimistic about the transformations observed in our young participants. By embedding values in engaging activities, we empower a generation capable of making ethical decisions. It is our collective responsibility—educators, parents, and leaders—to cultivate these values and inspire children to apply them throughout their lives. Together, we can guide our children toward a future grounded in integrity and positive change.”

Anuge thanked Uncle Sele of Trees and Pillars for supporting the initiative, adding that she hoped to take it to a larger scale in the future.

At the end of the competition, Team Courage came first and was rewarded with a cash orize of N250,000.

Team Justice came second and won N100,000 cash prize, while Team Honesty came third and was given N75,000.

Team Responsibility was fourth and got N70,000 cash reward. Participants and their colleagues also got various prizes.