Lagos awards tuition scholarships to arts competition winners
June 26, 2026 2:20 am
Cross section of government officials and winners of the 2026 Lagos Schools Arts and Craft Competition at the grand finale held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos, on Tuesday. Credit: Wale Akinselure.
Winners across secondary and tertiary institutions have emerged in the second edition of the Lagos Schools Arts and Craft Competition, themed “This is Lagos,” with the Lagos State Government awarding them tuition scholarships for the next academic session.
The winners were announced at the grand finale of the 2026 edition of the competition, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The competition, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, challenged students in junior and senior secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions to showcase their creativity through painting, drawing, sculpture, beadwork, textile design, leatherwork, digital art and upcycling.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the winners would receive scholarships covering their tuition for one academic year or equivalent support from the state government.
She said, “The winning students will get scholarships to pay for their tuition for one year. We will get in touch with them. Next academic session, the government will pay and fulfil this obligation. We did the same last year.”
Oyekan-Ismaila commended the participants for producing artworks that reflected the essence of Lagos, describing the entries as a celebration of the state’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant communities, entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to sustainability.
“These outstanding creations demonstrate that our young minds not only appreciate our cultural values but also possess the creativity and vision needed to shape a brighter future,” she said.
According to her, the competition was designed to expose students to Lagos culture, traditions and heritage while nurturing innovation and creativity among young people.
“Our main aim is to ensure that students are aware of our culture, our tradition and our heritage, and to bring out the innovation and creativity in them. From the displays and creative works, you can see that the students depicted in one way or another what the theme, ‘This is Lagos,’ actually means.
“It is also to tell them that there are enormous opportunities and limitless possibilities for them as artists and creatives. The sky is the limit,” she added.
In the tertiary category, the top winners were Goodness Popoola, a 400-level student at Lagos State University of Education; AbdulRahman Saheed, a 300-level student at Lagos State University of Science and Technology; and Boton Samuel, a 400-level student at LASUED.
The senior secondary category was won by Ajayi Maugbe of Methodist Senior High School, Makinde Abraham of Millennium Senior Secondary School and Akinola Oluwatobi of Sanggo Senior Secondary School, all in SS2.
In the junior secondary category, the winners were Mufutau Opeyemi of Clegg Girls Junior High School, Orungbamila Esther of Ikotun Junior High School and Saheed Remilekun of Community Junior Grammar School, Akowonjo.
A total of 489 students registered for the competition, while 132 participants submitted entries from across the five divisions of Lagos State and selected tertiary institutions.
Oyekan-Ismaila encouraged the winners to continue developing their talents and using their art to tell the Lagos story.
“For those who may not be receiving prizes today, remember that every great artist began with a single step. Do not be discouraged. Continue refining your craft, improving your skills and preparing for greater opportunities ahead. Your journey is only just beginning,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Bonu, said the initiative was aimed at equipping students with skills that could make them self-reliant.
“Creatives do not need to wait for government jobs. You can be self-sufficient with your arts and crafts. The future of Lagos starts with the students,” he said.
Representing the state Head of Service, Bode Agoro, the Permanent Secretary, Basic and Secondary Education, Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, said the competition promoted cultural preservation while celebrating the creativity, talent and limitless potential of students.
The event was attended by Tutors-General, including Olufemi Paseda, Sani Omotayo, Hassan Abiodun and Adesina Kasali, who was represented by a director, as well as Ibidapo-Obe Olubunmi.
One of the winners, Ajayi Maugbe, recounted how determination and encouragement from his teacher helped him complete the painting that earned him the prize after working on it for about a month. He said he hopes to become a professional artist and cited Badagry-based painter, Gafar Awesu, as one of his inspirations.
Olawale Franklin Akinselure is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with 12 years of experience covering education, politics, health, environment, judiciary, metro, and community beats. He specializes in producing insightful, wide-ranging reports that inform and engage readers. His reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a dedication to accurate, reliable journalism.
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