Lagos State Government on Thursday announced an arts and crafts competition for over 100,000 students of the over 1,200 secondary schools, as well as the tertiary institutions in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Damilola Ayinde Marshal, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing to announce the Eko Arts and Crafts Competition for secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Lagos State.
“As we are all aware, the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration outlines clear priorities for advancing the development of Lagos State.
“Under the Fifth Pillar, Entertainment, and Tourism, our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has continued to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to harnessing creativity, empowering young people, and positioning Lagos as the cultural and entertainment hub of Africa.
“This Eko Arts and Crafts Competition is one of the strategic interventions that will bring this vision to life. This competition has been carefully designed to discover, nurture, and showcase the immense talent that exists in our secondary schools and tertiary institutions across Lagos.
“We recognise that within our classrooms are young artists, sculptors, and creative thinkers whose gifts must not only be encouraged but also refined, celebrated, and projected to the world.”
She said students can register on the competition’s website: https://ekoschoolsartsandcrafts.com, from September 11, to participate.
According to her, the grand prize for winners is a one-year scholarship in the secondary and tertiary categories.
“Art, as we know, is more than just aesthetics. It is storytelling. It is heritage preservation. It is a mirror of society. Through paintings, drawings, sculptures, and crafts, our young people have the opportunity to express their thoughts, aspirations, and ideas while also preserving our cultural identity for future generations. By promoting arts and crafts, we are not only encouraging creativity but also safeguarding the cultural wealth of Lagos State.
“Furthermore, this initiative will serve as a platform to: foster creativity among young people, encourage entrepreneurship in the creative sector, promote cultural heritage through modern and traditional artistic expressions, and develop genuine skills that will support sustainable economic growth and innovation in our state.
“We encourage school administrators, parents, teachers, and guardians to motivate their wards and students to take advantage of this golden opportunity.
The competition promises not only recognition but also life-changing opportunities for winners, as they will be exposed to mentorship, exhibitions, and possible partnerships that will enable them to thrive in the creative industry.”
