Haneefah Adam, winner of the inaugural Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award, a pioneering public art commission established to support artistic innovation and future-focused cultural expression in Nigeria, will create a 12-foot public sculpture titled,Bloom inUnexpected Places, within the YSMA and Pan-Atlantic University environment.

The installtioon was selected through a rigorous jury process involving leading artists, curators, scholars, and cultural professionals, the proposal distinguished itself through its originality, conceptual strength, artistic ambition, and thoughtful engagement with the award’s central theme: Reimagine the future and build into form through art.

The work explores themes of growth, resilience, innovation, and possibility, inviting audiences to reflect on how creativity and human ingenuity can flourish in unexpected circumstances and environments. Through its scale and public presence, the installation is intended to spark conversations about the future while enriching the cultural landscape of the University and the wider community.

The announcement was made during the 10th Anniversary Dinner of Ventures Platform in Lagos, where Haneefah was formally recognised following a competitive national selection process that attracted submissions from artists and art collectives across Nigeria.

The award represents a landmark moment in Haneefah’s artistic journey. While she has earned recognition for her innovative and socially engaged practice, this commission marks her first institutional award, her first major public art commission, and the largest public artwork of her career to date.

The YSMA, Museum Director, Jess Castellote, described the award as an important investment in both artists and public culture.

“At YSMA, we believe museums have a responsibility not only to preserve cultural heritage but also to support the creation of new cultural futures. Haneefah’s proposal impressed the Jury with its clarity, imagination, and relevance to contemporary conversations about innovation and possibility. We are delighted to support the realisation of this ambitious work and to welcome it into the Museum’s growing public art programme. The Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award demonstrates what is possible when cultural institutions and private-sector partners work together to invest in creativity and public engagement.”

According to the founder and General Partner of Ventures Platform, Kola Aina: “As we celebrate 10 years of backing visionary founders across Africa.
We wanted to create something that reflects our belief.

That innovation is not confined to technology or business alone. The future is also imagined through culture, creativity, and the stories we tell about ourselves. This Award represents aninvestment in imagination itself. Haneefah’s proposal captures that spirit beautifully, and we are excited to see it come to life as a public artwork that inspires curiosity, reflection, and optimism.”

•The award is one component of a broader three-year collaboration between Ventures Platform and YSMA, which also includes entrepreneurship-focused masterclasses, guest lectures, and student engagement initiatives within the Pan-Atlantic University ecosystem.

Commenting on her selection, Haneefah expressed gratitude for the opportunity and excitement about the journey ahead.

•“I am deeply honoured to be the inaugural recipient of the Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award. To have my work selected from among so many strong submissions is both humbling and encouraging. Bloom in Unexpected Places is rooted in the belief that creativity, hope, and transformation can emerge even in the most unlikely circumstances. I look forward to working with YSMA and Ventures Platform to bring this vision into the public realm and create a work that invites people to think differently about the future.”