Lagos:A burst of creativity swept through Lagos as 153 students from various schools showcased their artistic talents at the Eko Schools Arts Competition.
The event, designed to nurture young creatives and celebrate cultural expression, culminated in nine standout winners who impressed judges with originality, technique, and storytelling through art.
Speaking at the grand finale of the competition, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Damilola Ayinde-Marshal, said the initiative was aimed at identifying young talents whose creative works tell the story of Lagos, and shape the future of its innovative economy.
The event, with the theme, ‘My Lagos. The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture organised My Art.
She added that the programme was created to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world creative enterprise.
“Initiatives such as these are essential because they help us to harness the potential of our young people and give them a platform to shine,” she said.
She said the overwhelming response from students reflected the imagination, courage, and vibrant spirit of Lagos youth.
Ayinde-Marshal said all 153 entries were assessed by judges based on originality, creativity, relevance to the theme, technical skill, use of materials, overall presentation, and impact.
“Through a rigorous and transparent process, 12 outstanding participants were pre-selected.
“In the spirit of inclusivity and innovation, an online public voting process was opened before TV to determine our final winners,” she said.
She commended Gov.Sanwo-Olu for his inspiring leadership and support for youth and creative development.
The nine winners, three each, were drawn from three categories: junior, senior and tertiary institutions across the state.
Israel Adedoyin, Oluwatobi Kolawole and Desmond Awatefe emerged winners in the junior category, while Alexis Aghenta, Maryam Awolewa and Usa Pascal won the senior category.
The winners for the tertiary category are Goodness Popoola, Azeez Aderibigbe and Samuel Aina.
The winners in each category were awarded one-year scholarships.
Dr Fola David, one of the judges, commended the level of effort and creativity the students showcased.
David, who is not only a medical doctor but also a visual artist, said the winners were not judged solely on the quality of their work but also on their presentation.
“We saw that every single person who submitted knows what they were doing,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr Adeniran Kasali, lauded the initiative for helping develop the creative skills students already possessed.
Maryam Awolewa, who took second in the senior category, said her beaded works not only showcased beauty but also served as a channel for presenting shapes, including a trapezium, in a colourful way that would aid learning.