By Lateef Odegbenle
The Lagos State Government is set to discover and showcase talents among secondary school and tertiary institution students across the state through a new initiative tagged Eko Arts and Crafts Competition.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Damilola Ayinde Marshal, disclosed this during a press conference at Alausa, Ikeja, to formally announce the maiden edition of the competition.
According to her, the registration portal, which opens today, September 11, is https://ekoschoolsartsandcrafts.com. The portal will serve as the platform for students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the state to register.
Participants are expected to register and submit their entries between September 11 and 18, while the competition itself will hold from September 18 to October 2.
Marshal stated that the governor has approved scholarship awards for the winners at the end of the exercise.
She explained that under the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of the state governor, the fifth pillar, Entertainment and Tourism, continues to demonstrate the government’s commitment to harnessing creativity, empowering young people, and positioning Lagos as the cultural and entertainment hub of Africa.
The SSA noted that in addressing the governor’s vision, the Eko Arts and Crafts Competition is one of the strategic interventions designed to bring the initiative to reality.
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“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,” Marshal said.
“We recognize 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.”
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While encouraging school administrators, parents, teachers, and guardians to motivate their wards and students to register, she added: “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.”