Get Guardian on GoogleThe management of Lekki Port, promoters of the Lekki Deep Seaport, has engaged the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to leverage marine arts in supporting the port’s growth and the future development of maritime trade.
Through an art exhibition contest featuring paintings and sculptures, held at the port facility in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, students from the Fine & Applied Arts department showcased creative works inspired by the port’s history, development and relationship with its host communities.
About 16 entries were submitted for the painting category, while the sculpture category attracted 11 entries, for a total of 27 entries from the students.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Lekki Port, Wang Qiang, commended the students for their creativity and talent, particularly their ability to translate the history and identity of Lekki Port into artistic expressions, while calling for sustained cooperation among stakeholders to support the port’s growth and future development.
Qiang also acknowledged the contributions of the university’s faculty and students to the exhibition, noting that their sculptures and paintings reflected their understanding of the port’s journey and its relationship with the surrounding communities.
“The development of Lekki Port today is the result of the collaboration of everyone, including government agencies and the host communities. The students are very talented, and the sculptures and paintings they have produced are truly impressive,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, Fine and Applied Arts, UNILAG, Prof. John Adenle, commended Lekki Port for providing the students with a platform to translate their artistic knowledge into practical works, explore their creativity and showcase their talents beyond the lecture room.
Adenle explained that the artworks offered more than visual expressions, as they documented the history of the host community, captured its present transformation and presented perspectives on its future.
He also commended Lekki Port for its continued partnership with the University and thanked the Vice-Chancellor for providing an enabling environment for the students to thrive.
Both winners in the painting and sculpture segments received a cash prize of N500,000 each, while the first and second runner-ups in each segment received cash prizes of N300,000 and N150,000, respectively.
Speaking of her work, the winner of the painting contest, Eunice Kolawole, said her artwork, which depicted a ship emerging from an eggshell, was inspired by Lekki Port’s humble beginnings and its transformation into a major maritime hub.
She described the recognition as an encouragement to further develop her artistic skills and pursue her interest in painting, which she recently started exploring
On his part, Joseph Udoh, whose winning sculpture, titled ‘Hands of Nations’, explained that the artwork represents hands from different races and parts of the world coming together to form the Lekki Port logo, symbolising collaboration and the collective contributions that have shaped the development of the port.
He expressed excitement over the recognition, describing the opportunity to exhibit his work at Lekki Port as a valuable experience that would encourage him to continue developing his artistic skills.
