The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing creativity and empowering young talents through arts education.
The assurance was given by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, at the grand finale and prize presentation ceremony of Eko Schools Arts and Crafts Competition 2.0 held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

Speaking at the event, Oyekan-Ismaila described the programme as a flagship initiative designed to discover, nurture and showcase the immense creative potential of students across the state.
She said the grand finale was a celebration of creativity, innovation, culture and the boundless potential of young Lagosians.
Oyekan-Ismaila stated that as the nation’s creative and cultural capital, Lagos continues to lead the way in promoting artistic excellence and empowering the next generation of creatives.

“This competition was conceived from the belief that creativity begins in our classrooms and that every child deserves a platform to express his or her talent, tell personal stories, and contribute meaningfully to society through the arts,” she said.
While expatiating on the competition, the permanent secretary said 489 participants registered for the competition, with 132 entries submitted from schools across the five divisions of Lagos State and some tertiary institutions.
The competition featured different categories, including painting, drawing, sculpture, beadwork, textile design, leatherwork, digital art and upcycling, among others.

“This year’s theme, ‘This is Lagos’, challenged participants to creatively interpret the identity, heritage, resilience, innovation and diversity of the state,” she said.
Oyekan-Ismaila noted that the artworks by the participants beautifully captured the essence of Lagos, its rich cultural heritage, vibrant communities, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to sustainability.
She said: “These outstanding creations demonstrated that our young minds not only appreciate our cultural values, but also possess the creativity and vision needed to shape a brighter future.”

Commending the students, the permanent secretary emphasised that the creative industry is no longer a secondary option, but a major driver of economic growth, innovation, employment and global recognition.
She urged the winners to let the achievement inspire them to aim even higher.
“Continue to learn, unlearn, relearn, create, innovate and tell the Lagos story through your art,” she said.

She assured that the state government will continue to support arts education, skills development, mentorship programmes and platforms that encourage youth creativity and expression.
“We remain committed to partnering with educational institutions, industry professionals and the private sector, in ensuring that young talents are given every opportunity to succeed,” she said.
At the event, in the tertiary students’ category, Goodness Popoola, a 400-level student of Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), emerged winner, while Abdul Rahman Saheed, a 300 level student of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), came second, and Aina Samuel, a 400 level student of LASUED, emerged third.

In the senior secondary category, Ajayi Pascal Maugbe, a Senior Secondary two student of Methodist Senior High School, Badagry, clinched first position, while Makinde Opeyemi Abraham, also in SS2, Millennium Senior Secondary School, came second and Akinola Oluwatobi of Sango Senior Secondary School, emerged third.
In the junior secondary category, Mufutau Aishat Opeyemi of Clegg Girls Junior High School emerged winner; Esther Oluwalonimi, of Ikotun Junior High School, emerged first runner-up, while Khadijat Saheed of Community Junior Grammar School, Akowonjo, emerged as second runner-up in the competition.
On his part, judge of the competition, Fola David, lauded participants for their efforts, noting that the competition provided an opportunity for young talents to showcase their creativity and artistic potentials.

The Head of Service, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic Education, Mrs Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbi,said the initiative has provided a platform for the children to showcase their artistic abilities.
This year’s competition not only celebrated artistic excellence, but also reinforced Lagos’s vision of positioning creativity as a cornerstone of its developmental agenda.
Speaking on behalf of others, Maugbe lauded the government for the initiative, saying the theme challenged him to look deeper at Lagos, “not just the traffic and skyscrapers, but the resilience of market women, the colours of our festivals, the hustle of young people, and the hope we carry every day.”