A graduating student of Dansol High School, Ikeja, Miss Pearl Evans-Akere, has won the maiden edition of Chima Victor Award for Best Graduating Student in Visual Arts.

The award presentation was part of the 27th Valedictory/Thanksgiving Service by Dansol High School.

Presenting the award to Evans-Akere at the event held recently in the school’s premises, Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Chima Victor Foundation for Budding Artists, Dr Onyekachi Nnaekpe, congratulated the young girl, urging her not to relent in her effort.

The Chima Victor Award for the Best Graduating Student in Visual Arts is sponsored by the Foundation in memory of Mr. Chima Victor Nnaekpe, a 2008 graduate of Dansol High School who died in a motor accident on July 26, 2020.

According to Nnaekpe, “Chima had a deep passion for visual arts, as some of his Art teachers in Dansol would testify, even though he later studied Economics at Covenant University, Ota and worked with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria as a commercial officer before his demise.”

“It is important to note that while in the university, he never lost interest in visual arts which was evident in the many comics he passionately made (most of which are yet to be published) and in the various fantastic artistic ideas he had.”

Nnaekpe added, “he had a big dream to make a lasting impact in the visual arts, most especially in the comic book world, but that dream was cut short before his sudden departure; so the main objective of the foundation is to ensure that that dream is realised by discovering and encouraging specially talented budding artists in Nigerian schools who have the potential to become giants in the Arts, even beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

The award, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2021 is endorsed by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

Highlights of the event included dance performances by Dansol Cultural Troupe, Crowning of Miss Excellence, Alumni Induction, presentation of prizes/awards to three best students in Yoruba Language, Visual Arts, English Language, Music, Literature-In-English, Dyeing and Bleaching, Civic education, and other subjects, respectively.