Caption: Practicals at the Fobally Art World Africa Art Competition for Lagos State Secondary Schools
By Tunde Olanipekun
SIXTY students of Secondary school students in Lagos, and 16 undergraduates from across the nation’s higher Institutions participated in the grand finale of the Fobally Art World Africa Art Competition for Lagos State Secondary Schools, which held September 11-15 2023.
The exercise involved a physical and practical creative process to determine whether the students actually produced the entries they had earlier submitted for the 2nd annual Fobally Art competition.
Five veteran professional and practising Artists sat together as judges to pick the winners in both the secondary schools and undergraduate categories. The judges were: Prof Kunle Adeyemi, a lecturer and former Dean, School of Art, Design and Printing, Yaba College of Technology, Prince Kolawole Olojo-Kosoko, current Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA, his Vice Chairman, Ayoola Omovo, Dr Sola Ogunfuwa of the Department of Creative’s Arts, University of Lagos and Tunde Olanipekun, a consultant to the Lagos Council for Art & Culture and Christ Redeemer’s Schools on children Art and Craft Competitions/Exhibitions.
The theme for the 2023 competition “Paint your aspired Lagos and paint your aspired Nation” aims to drive discussions that enable participation of young people in debate about governance, local development planning, national development policy, leadership discussions and conception of the future state and the Nation we envision,” stated Mrs. Folashade Abiola, Creative Director of Fobally Art World Africa, in her opening remarks,
While giving an assessment of the process of picking the winners, Dr Ogunfuwa, said the judges considered several criteria which include Originality Interpretation of the theme, Composition, Creativity and Craftsmanship. He added that the level of creativity of the students is high and very competitive to the extent that the judges had a difficult time selecting the winners. They were not only able to practicalise the entries they submitted, but also wrote and spoke brilliantly about their works which is highly commendable.
Chairman of the Lagos SNA, Prince Olojo-Kosoko, in his remarks also praised the secondary and undergraduate students for an incredible display of talent and creativity. He said each piece of artwork was a testament to the dedication, passion, and hardwork of the students.
Lemmy Omololu Omoyinmi, in his keynote address, describes artists as architects of dreams, weavers of narratives, and catalysts of change. He encouraged the participants that art creates impact on lives and society, provokes, inspires, heals, challenges the status quo, and can push boundaries.
He also commented on the theme “Paint your aspired Lagos and Nation” describing ‘aspire’ as the octave level, a noble goal that one strives to achieve – spiritual or moral. He referenced Pablo Picasso – “Every child is an Artist; the problem is how to remain an artist when they grow up.” He implored the audience to resolve to keep the flames of their inner child’s creativity burning and brightly and to embrace the limitless power of art to shape, inspire change, making our world better, brighter, and beautiful.
The participants in the grand finale of the event were 60 students drawn from 35 schools across the educational districts in Lagos State, 16 undergraduates from various tertiary institutions — University of Nigeria UNN Nsukka, University of Lagos, Unilag, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU), Ife and Delta State University, Abraka, Adeyemi College of Education Ondo, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, Covenant University and Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State.
Reddy Aadya from British International School’s painting of Aspired Lagos, offers a dynamic perspective to not just the physical development of Lagos but to the culture of Lagos metropolitan community. It’s a work worthy of mentioning especially in today’s Nigeria as a nation striving to find its true cultural image, years after the “whites conquest” that have denied Africans their true culture. The artist depicts Eyo masquerades with their “opambata,” dancing to the tune of a drummer against the background of high-rise buildings that capture viage of Lagos metropolis.
The winner of the Secondary School category also displays incredible craftsmanship and a good composition in her rendition of “My Aspired Lagos”, an imagination of her preferred Lagos. A network of roads and bridges with lush green vegetation against the background of Lagos Lagoon and the high-rise buildings at the far back. Her work stood out, she went home with the First Prize N200,000.
Dosunmu Aisha was winner from At-Tanzeel Secondary Schools; the first runner-up, also a female, Yusuf Kabirat Oluwatoyosi is from Zumratul Islamiyya Secondary School while the second runner-up, Chidi Uchechukwu Christopher is from Navy Town Junior Secondary School, Ojo.
The undergraduates also display a promising visual literacy to back up their images. The content that allows the viewer to view their descriptive vocabulary in their presentations of “My aspired Nation”. Very striking among the entries are the works of Adelekan Fortune from the University of Lagos, the first prize winner, and Emeka John Tochukwu from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). Others are Emmanuel Dare, Obafemi Awolowo University OAU, Oyaremi David from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and Adetolu Adewoye from UNN, Epe Campus. The only female among the undergraduates, Chidinma Solomon from Alex Ekueme Federal University displays a high sense of creativity by using waste fabrics to paint a beautiful portrait.
The parents, teachers, and other viewers at the event expressed their amazement at the innovative interpretations of the student’s works. “They have helped us to see Lagos in a new way thereby contributing to the development discourse of Lagos and Nigeria.
Tribute should be given to Fobally Art Africa for the platform given to the students to express themselves. Kudos to the sponsors of the programme (FITC, DSTV, LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC, MTN, NAIRAMETRICS, BANK OF INDUSTRY, CADBURY, NIGERIA BOTTLING COMPANY
Judges of the competition: L-R, Ayoola Omovo, Prince Kolawole Olojo-Kosoko, Chairman, Lagos SNA, Dr Kunle Adeyemi, Dr Tunde Olanipekun and Dr Sola Ogunfuwa
Creative Director of Fobally Art World Africa,Mrs Folashade Abiola presenting cheque to the First Prize winner, Dosumu Aishat from Al-Tanzeel Secondary School in the Secondary category
The judges going round to access the students at work
