A national initiative focused on strengthening consumer education and awareness about milk and dairy products, the Choose Milk Campaign, has launched an essay competition for primary school pupils across Enugu, Kaduna, Lagos, Rivers, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This maiden edition, open to pupils in Primary Four to Six, aged nine to 11, began on September 15. It will end on October 31, 2026. The initiative aims to educate children on the importance of understanding milk and making informed dairy choices.

Senior Project Manager, Danish Dairy Board, Mr. Lars Jensen, emphasised that the initiative was aimed at helping kids and parents develop a better understanding of the difference between milk and creamers and the role of milk in children’s nutrition.

“Children are not only consumers; they are also important voices within the home and can influence the choices their families make. Through this competition, we want to equip pupils with simple, practical knowledge that helps them understand the difference between milk and creamers and appreciate the nutritional value of milk. When children learn to make informed choices early, they can carry that knowledge into their homes and communities,” Jensen said.

To participate, interested pupils are required to write a short letter addressed to their school’s headmaster or headmistress on the topic: “How Students in My School Can Differentiate Between Milk and Creamers.” The letter should include the pupil’s name, gender, age, class, school name and school location. Visit https://choosemilk.com.ng/essaycompetition/ to submit entries.

According to the organisers, the competition, will be extended to additional states as the three-year Choose Milk Campaign progresses. It is part of the broader Choose Milk Campaign, launched by stakeholders from the Danish Dairy Board, European Union in partnership with the Federal Government to help Nigerian households make informed dairy choices through consumer education and greater awareness of the nutritional benefits of milk and the differences between authentic milk and creamers. (The Guardian)