153 students participate in Eko Schools Arts Competition, 9 emerge winners

A total of 153 students from secondary and tertiary institutions across Lagos State on Tuesday participated in the Eko Schools Arts and Crafts Competition, with nine winners emerging, after a rigorous selection process.

Speaking at the grand finale of the competition,  Senior Special Assistant to Gov. 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 creative economy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, with the theme, ‘My Lagos. My Art’, was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

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 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.