December 02, (THEWILL) – ‘My story of the struggle to make it, just like one of many youths out there; but there is hope for a better future and success if we remain focused on our passion and pursuit in life. I thank the organisers, the sponsors, the judges, as well as my family and friends, who believed in me and kept encouraging me. Thank you all.”
The above sums up the mood of Mr Samson Ejiofor, the overall winner of this year’s Life In MY City Arts Festival, which was held in Enugu.
After seven attempts, Ejiofor, a 2016 graduate of Fine and Applied Art, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who was announced the best sculptor/installation artist, to become the overall winner, went home with a cash prize of N500,000.
Ejiofor’s entry, ‘Cold Mineral, Cold Pure Water (an installation), beat 24 other entries that made the contest’s final shortlist, attracting an initial 270 entries from across eight zones of the country. This is, however, lower than the average entry of 400 recorded in past years due to the eight-month ASUU strike.
Of the 25 that made the final shortlist, 14 got consolation prizes of N20,000 each, while others got special endowment prizes ranging from N100,000 to N250,000. The winners in this category included Odo Chikaekwu (Enugu zone prize), Ajibade Adebayo (Lawrence Agada prize), Essang Effiong (Mfom Usoro prize), Atere Olubunmi (Pius Okigbo prize), Mbaeri Stephen (Justice Anthony Aniagolu prize), Abiodun Emmanuel (Textile /Fashion prize), Adebayo Segun (Video/Photography), Idowu Abayomi (Graphics/Digital art), Joy Ogiri Joseph (Ceramics prize) and Hector M. Nnamdi (Painting prize).
Ejiofor recalled that his participation in the 2022 Dak’Art Biennale, in Senegal, courtesy of LIMCAF, broadened his horizon, particularly on emerging trends in art. The elated Enugu-based wood sculptor said: “My participation in the Dak’art biennale this year opened my eyes to new things about art. I have gotten what I wanted from LIMCAF. I can now go ahead and explore and grow in my art. This is the base. I am very glad to be the winner and I can’t thank the sponsors enough, especially MTN Foundation and Ford Foundation. They should not get tired of supporting the art.”
The Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has assured youths of his administration’s commitment to uplift creativity and talent through various platforms within the state.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Chief Chidi Aroh, noted that the state government would continue to give hope to the youths by supporting their creativity, talent and zeal to bring out the best.
According to him, “as a government, we will continue to create an enabling environment for the creativity of our youths to be heard and seen clearly and sustain our support for various platforms in this direction.
“The state government will continue to support youths, creativity and this particular festival to greater heights since it serves as a springboard to showcase their artistic creativity to the entire world.
“I will want to commend the organisers for making this festival an annual one since 2007 and taking the pain and resources to teach and bring the very best out of our talented youths”, he said.
In a video message, the Obi-of-Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, urged the youths to be hardworking and be determined to get to the zenith of anything they had a passion for, ‘there lies the future for you. The Onitsha Monarch appreciated the sponsors of the festival – MTN Foundation, Ford Foundation and others – for sustaining the festival and ‘making it a global brand notwithstanding its very humble beginning’.
“LIMCAF Art Festival within 16 years has grown to become the largest and highest-running art festival in the country collecting hundreds of artworks yearly.
“It is time to take and expand LIMCAF beyond Nigeria to an African scope and magnitude”, the Obi-of-Onitsha said.
Former Group Managing Director, First Bank Holdings, Elder U K Eke, who chaired the occasion, urged organisers of the festival to continue to give voices to the young talents as the festival may be the platform needed to replace the old art masters. He said the festival remains an opportunity to see the expression of talents by young Nigerians, which he has been part of for about 12 years.
“LIMCAF is creating a platform for youths to express themselves, speak to reality in our environment. Great minds come from festivals like this and it reminds one of the masters, such as EL Anatsui, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya and Prof Bem Enwonwu. There is a need to encourage them by collecting their work. To you all, you are winners,” he added.
Chairman, Board of LIMCAF, Elder Kalu U Kalu, described this year’s edition of the festival as a very remarkable one, adding that the festival sponsored 18 past winners to the Dak’Art biennale in Senegal, in May, courtesy of Prof Anatsui.
“Some of them are now internationally recognised professionals, some others have set up their studios and galleries, while many have, by their testimony, discovered themselves in many new ways through participation in LIMCAF events. Other LIMCAF platforms such as the School Children and Teachers Workshop and the LIMCAF’s lectures constitute other success stories. They fill the gap in art education in our schools. We plan to expand the school workshop to include special needs children and schools in remote areas,” he said.
Director, MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro, described Nigerian youths as one of the best in the world, as they are ready to learn and contribute to the growth of the country in so many ways. He reiterated the foundation’s commitment to supporting art and drama, adding that MTN Foundation has not regretted sponsoring the festival ever since.
He, however, tasked the youth to pay serious attention to their communication and presentation skills to market their works to the globe. “Failure shouldn’t dampen your spirit. However, communication and presentation are very key to marketing your art. Art teachers need to work on this area of the school syllabus,” he said.
The jurors were Prof Jerry Buhari, Dr Odun Orimolade, Dr Timipre Amah, Okechukwu Nwafor, Mariagoretti Eze and Olumide Oresegun.
About the Author
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
