Follow Us on Google
By Damiete Braide
For her talent, industry and creativity, Miss Pearl Evans-Akere, one of the graduating students of Dansol High School, Ikeja, Lagos, won the maiden edition of The Chima Victor Award for Best Graduating Student in Visual Arts.
To win the prestigious award, Evans-Akere came first in visual arts in the school with her excellent performance.
The award presentation was part of the 27th valedictory/thanksgiving service by Dansol High School.
Presenting the award to Evans-Akere at the colourful event last week on the school’s premises, secretary to the board of trustees, Chima Victor Foundation for Budding Artists, Dr. Onyekachi Nnaekpe, congratulated her and urged her not torelent in her efforts.
The Chima Victor Award for the Best Graduating Student in Visual Arts is sponsored by the Chima Victor Foundation for Budding Artists, in memory of Mr. Chima Victor Nnaekpe, a 2008 graduate of Dansol High School who died in a motor accident, on July 26, 2020.
Chima had a deep passion for the visual arts, as some of his art teachers in Dansol testified, 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,” said Chima’s father, Pastor Onyekwere Nnaekpe.
He said: “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 – students who have the potential to become giants in the arts, even beyond the shores of Nigeria. May God help us keep Chima’s dream alive, in Jesus’ name.”
The Chima Victor Award for the Best Graduating Student in Visual Arts was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2021 and endorsed by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
Highlights of the event include 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, Book Keeping, Mathematic, Physics, Agricultural Science, Biology, Computer, and other subjects, respectively. There was also a farewell song by Dansol School choir.
