Visual arts will empower youths – Culture Minister
The Minister who was represented by the Director of Culture in the Ministry, Chief George Ufot, said the Visual Arts Competition is a means to confront drawbacks and other challenges faced by Nigerian bound tourists. He expressed optimism that through the programme Nigerian youths with artistic creativity will be empowered, their skills enhanced, thereby bringing […]
The Minister who was represented by the Director of Culture in the Ministry, Chief George Ufot, said the Visual Arts Competition is a means to confront drawbacks and other challenges faced by Nigerian bound tourists. He expressed optimism that through the programme Nigerian youths with artistic creativity will be empowered, their skills enhanced, thereby bringing out the entrepreneurial potentials in the visual arts.
The minister highlighted that the challenge before the present generation of artists is to take the bar a notch higher by using the art to dispel the perception that nothing good works in Nigeria. He then urged the NGA to use the platform for social and economic rebirth.
In attendance was the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, who stated that there is need for political commitment from leaders for successful elections. He hoped that the event will provide the vital information that will in turn be part of the policy statement of this administration in quest for credible election.
The Ag. Director General of the NGA, Mr. Abdullahi Muku explained that this edition received more entries than the previous ones and from more states of the federation, adding that this year’s theme was essentially chosen to allow the creative segment of Nigerians express themselves beyond the traditional value of their works.
“Serving as a springboard for all, the competition catapults young innovators into the national visual art arena, where they have the opportunity to showcase and realise their dreams and aspirations,” he said.
He seized the opportunity to solicit help from the private sector and other stakeholders towards sustaining the competition.
The competition which was themed Electoral Reforms as Ethics for Good Governance had five sub-themes, One Man, One Vote; The Nation of My Dreams; Shun Electoral Mal-Practices; Credible Election; Our Hope, Our Pride, and My Voice for Love, Peace and Unity. It was split into professional, tertiary, secondary and primary categories with Eruada Stephen, Sor Sen and Oswald Uruakpa taking home N200,000, N150,000 and N100,000.00 prizes for the first, second and third places respectively in the professional category.
Kamarudeen Oladimeji, Abdulkadir Muideen and Nwogrom Samuel received N150,000, N100,000 and N70,000 for the tertiary categories as Umenweke Anthony, Echezona Ogudu and Abdul Shittu received N90,000, N70,000 and N60,000 in the secondary category. In the primary category Adeyinka Yusuf, Hudonu Dayo and Adamu Abubakar won N70,000.00, N60,000.00 and N50,000.00.