Winners emerge at NGA`s 4th annual arts competition

Speaking during the grand finale of the 4th edition of the competition held in Abuja, NGA Director General, Dr. Abdullahi Muku said that Nigeria is endowed with creative individuals that possess inestimable talents and abundant skills which has not been fully tapped. He said that such talents and skills need to be discovered, honed and […]

Speaking during the grand finale of the 4th edition of the competition held in Abuja, NGA Director General, Dr. Abdullahi Muku said that Nigeria is endowed with creative individuals that possess inestimable talents and abundant skills which has not been fully tapped.

He said that such talents and skills need to be discovered, honed and given an opportunity and a platform.

Muku  said that the focus of the competition  is to forge unity and peace which are fundamental to Nigeria`s unshaken integration, saying these have been shown by participants from primary/ secondary schools, tertiary institutions and those in professional practice.

“As has been reiterated in many of the products of this competition, it is apparent that Nigeria`s peace – and not any component of its opposite—  is integral and fundamental to Nigeria`s unshaken integration.  These thoughts have been expressly advanced by participants from primary/secondary schools, tertiary institutions and those in professional practice. We are hereby united by a common goal, a common cause, a common belief for the fortification of our thought process and realization of our common expectation of peaceful coexistence.

Earlier in his address, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation  chief Edem Duke commended NGA for the annual competition,  which, according to him,  will help in youth empowerment  and  in the discovery of raw talents and creativity.

The minister said, “Beyond the tenets of empowerment and self reliance, for which the Nigerian artist deserves our round commendation, we are indebted to any policy and programme that breed national security, breathes peace and rid our nation of anything perceived  as an antithesis of peace.”

The first prize in the professional category was won by Shonibare Oladele; whose work “Unity in Diversity“ captured the very essence of the popular but carefully chosen slogan “One Nation, One People“. It goes to show that creativity of the artist is dynamic to reflect the way society should be governed.

The 2nd and 3rd positions went to Sor Sen and Ibrahim Yusuf respectively with related titles National Security” and “Unity in Diversity” to express their desires for peaceful co-existence and security for all and sundry in Nigeria.

In the tertiary   category, Nnorom J. Samuel who came first with his fibre glass work titled “Unity in Diversity” equally did not mince words in his depiction, which is a sure path to national development, integration and progress, like the 2nd and 3rd positions that went to Wamyil Ayuba and Ekpiken Joseph.

The lower levels of the competition saw Judith Yahaya, Penyam Abel and Caleb John taking 1st, 2nd and 3rdpositions respectively.

In the primary category, Emmanuel Amuzie dominated with his carefully chosen coloured pencil work titled “Unity in Diversity” to demonstrate that the citizens of Nigeria deeply appreciate that there is a lot to benefit from our diversity. Godsent Beete and Yohanna emerged 2nd and 3rd respectively.