By Tunde Olanipekun (MFA)

The Fobally Art World Africa Gallery played host to 60 Lagos State Secondary School Students and 16 Undergraduates from across the Nation’s higher Institutions from 11 – 15th September 2023 through a physical and practical creative process to determine whether they actually did the entries they submitted for the 2nd annual Fobally Art competition. A process that brought 5 veteran professional and practising Artists together as judges to pick the winners at both Secondary and Undergraduate levels. The panel of judges includes Prof Kunle Adeyemi, a lecturer and former Dean, School of Art, Design and Printing, Yab College of Technology, Prince Kolawole Olojo-Kosoko,,the sitting Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of The Society of Nigerian Artists and his Vice Chairman, Ayoola Omovo. Others are 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.
In her opening speech, the Creative Director of Fobally Art World Africa, Mrs Folashade Abiola, said that the Theme for the 2023 Art Competition “Paint your aspired Lagos and paint your aspired Nation” aims to drive discussions that enables the participation of the young people in debate about governance, local development planning, national developments policy, leadership discussions and conception of the future state and the Nation we envision.

Dr Sola Ogunfuwa while giving an assessment of the process of picking the winners said the judges considered several criteria which includes Originality Interpretation of the theme, Composition, Creativity and Craftsmanship. He further stated the level of creativity of the students is high and very competitive to the extent that the judges had a difficult time in selecting the winners. They were not only able to practicalise the entries they submitted, but they also wrote and spoke brilliantly about their works which is highly commendable.
Prince Olojo- Kosoko, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists SNA, while giving 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 hard work of the students.
Lemmy Omololu Omoyinmi, in his keynote address, describes artists as architect 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 quoted Pablo Picasso “Every child is an Artist; the problem is how to remain an artist when they grow up”. He further implores the audience to resolve to keep the flames of our 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.
A total of 60 Secondary Students from 35 Schools across the Educational districts in Lagos State participated in the event. While undergraduates across participated in the competition tagged- My Aspired Nation. Some of the schools represented are University of Nigeria UNN Nsukka, University of Lagos, UNILAG, The polytechnic Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, ), Ife and Delta State University, Abraka others are 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, this work is worthy of mentioning especially in today’s Nigeria as a Nation striving to find her true cultural image, years after the “whites conquest” of Nigeria and other African Nations that have denied us of true African culture in the face of our multifaceted of our living space. The artist depicts a typical Yoruba Drummer and Eyo masquerades with their “opambata”, dancing to the tune of the drummer against the background of high-rise buildings that accentuates Lagos metropolis.
The winners of the Secondary School category also display an 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 200000 Naira first price of the secondary school category.
Dosunmu Aisha, the winner from At-Tanzeel Schools while the first runner up also a female, Yusuf Kabirat Oluwatoyosi is from Zumratul Islamiyya School

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 works of Adelekan Fortune from 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 display 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 ASSUARANCE PLC, MTN, NAIRAMETRICS, BANK OF INDUSTRY, CADBURY, NIGERIA BOTTLING COMPANY

The competition finale began 12PM @ Four Points by Sheraton, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, on the 16th of September 2023.

THE COMPETITION OBJECTIVES INCLUDE

• To discover great Nigerian young Art Talents for national and global visibility
• To encourage the Nigerian youths to envision a nation of their dreams.
• To create a healthy communication platform between the Nigerian Youths and the Government
• To encourage the youths to be actively involved in nation building and community development planning.
• To provide platform for Nigerian Youths to develop and improve their raw Art talent to become a better person to the society at large.
• Provide a platform for young students to present their art and talent to a wider range of audience.
• To empower young artists to explore the world of Art to promote Nigerian and African culture.