Eko Arts And Crafts Competition For Secondary Schools And Tertiary Institutions Begins

The maiden edition of the Eko Arts and Crafts Competition for Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Lagos State has begun.

Addressing journalists at a press conference on the competition on Thursday, the Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Damilola Ayinde Marshal, Esq., said that the portal for registration for the competition was opened on Thursday, September 11, and would last till Thursday, September 18.

The SSA revealed that the competition, tagged “My Lagos, My Art,” would hold between Thursday, September 18, and Thursday, October 2, while the grand finale would hold live on Friday, October 24.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this press conference convened to formally announce and unveil the maiden edition of the Eko Arts and Crafts Competition for secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Lagos State.

“As we are all aware, the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration outlines clear priorities for advancing the development of Lagos State.

“Under the Fifth Pillar—Entertainment and Tourism—our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has continued to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to harnessing creativity, empowering young people, and positioning Lagos as the cultural and entertainment hub of Africa.

“This Eko Arts and Crafts Competition is one of the strategic interventions that will bring this vision to life.

“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.

“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,” she said.

Marshal stressed that while classroom learning provides the foundation for intellectual growth, there is also the need to create platforms where creativity can flourish, where hidden skills can be brought to light, and where passion can be transformed into productive careers—saying that this is what the competition seeks to achieve.

According to her: “Art, as we know, is more than just aesthetics. It is storytelling. It is heritage preservation. It is a mirror of society.

“Through paintings, drawings, sculptures, and crafts, our young people have the opportunity to express their thoughts, aspirations, and ideas while also preserving our cultural identity for future generations.

“By promoting arts and crafts, we are not only encouraging creativity but also safeguarding the cultural wealth of Lagos State.”

She added that the initiative will serve as a platform to:

• Foster creativity among young people;
• Encourage entrepreneurship in the creative sector;
• Promote cultural heritage through modern and traditional artistic expressions;
• Develop genuine skills that will support sustainable economic growth and innovation in our state.

The press conference, she said, also marked the official launch of the registration portal for the Eko Arts and Crafts Competition.

“This portal will serve as the primary platform for eligible participants to register and submit their entries. I must emphasize that participation is strictly open to students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Lagos State.

“We encourage school administrators, parents, teachers, and guardians to motivate their wards and students to take advantage of this golden opportunity.

“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.

“As we commence this journey, let me specially appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, tourism development, and the promotion of arts and crafts. His vision continues to drive our collective effort to position Lagos as the creative heartbeat of Nigeria and Africa.

“To our esteemed partners—the media—we count on your usual support in giving this initiative the wide publicity it deserves. We believe that together, we can inspire more young people to embrace creativity and contribute meaningfully to the cultural and economic development of Lagos State.

“The website for registration is: https://ekoschoolsartsandcrafts.com,” she said.

The event was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Lanre Bajulaiye, who was represented by the Ministry’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Taoreed Dosunmu; other SSAs in the state; directors; and senior civil servants in some ministries, among  others