At Neander schools’ art contest, pupils display creative ingenuity

The Neander International Schools Art and Sports competition for primary schools in Lagos State ended on a bright note recently, as the competing pupils exhibited high-level creativity.

The event, which held at the school’s premises, had about nine schools participating in still-life art drawing for arts and various track and field events in sports.

The pupils, who showed extreme creativity both in the art and sports activities, were a cynosure of a sort, as parents, guardians, teachers and spectators admired and encouraged their enthusiasm.

For those who participated in the drawing competition, a still-life composition was set at which few minutes were given to test this artistic acumen, while the track and field event, 100m, 200m and relay race featured both boys and girls.

At the end of the competition, pupils from Corona school emerged first and second best in drawings, while third position went to pupil from Smiley Kids International School.

Corona School also won the first position in the sport segment, followed by Kidddie Quest, while the third position went to White Horse Montessori School.

The two judges for the art competitions, who are also artists, Aisha Idris and Bolaji Ogunwo, affirmed that the children have bundle of talents lurking inside them that needed expression.

“The pupils are between the age bracket of six to 11 year old and what I saw in them are willingness and ability to interpret art at young age.”

“Some of them may not be artists on the long run but I saw upcoming creative potentials that could be brewed to stardom,” said Bolaji.

Mr. Charles Okafor, an art teacher in one of the participating schools said, “What the children displayed here today is good and will give room for more grooming. The spontaneity of the occasion gives the children some extra challenge from doing their normal best at school.”

While Ufoma Usivwe, an art teacher with the host school, Neander International Schools summed up the competition as ‘fantastic’.

Meanwhile the Principal of Neander International Schools, Epe, Lagos, Mr. Idris Agbaje said the event was organised for primary schools basically to help these young ones exhibit their talents.
He said schooling should not just be about academics alone, as children should not be hooked up in the four walls of the classroom all the time.

Agbaje urged parents to release their wards for competitive events outside school curriculum, saying that it is the only way children can adapt fast and express their hidden talents with other children in the society.