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Lekki Port has rewarded outstanding student artists following an art exhibition and competition organised to showcase creative interpretations of the port’s development, history and relationship with its host communities. The exhibition, held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Lekki Deep Seaport in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, featured paintings and sculptures produced by students of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The competition attracted entries in both painting and sculpture categories, with students showcasing their artistic interpretations of the port’s journey, its operations and its impact on the surrounding communities.
In the sculpture category, Hands of Nations, created by Joseph Udoh, Tope Ebini and Israel Morenikeji, emerged as the overall winner. 49 Approvals, produced by Gabriel Pedepo, came second, while Behind the Scene by Ifeoluwa Odushe and Nose Mask by James Afolabi jointly secured third position.
For the painting category, Eunice Kolawole emerged as the winner, while Samuel Idowu Ogundipe came second. Favour Sinmiloluwa Akande and Emmanuella Dzifa Bonuedi jointly finished in third place. The winners and runners-up in both categories received cash rewards in recognition of their outstanding entries.
Speaking at the exhibition, Managing Director of Lekki Port, Wang Qiang, commended the students for their creativity and ability to translate the story of the port into artistic expressions.
He noted that the development of Lekki Port had been made possible through the collective contributions of government agencies, host communities and other stakeholders, stressing the need to sustain the cooperation for the continued growth of the facility.
Qiang particularly appreciated the University of Lagos and its faculty members for providing the students with the necessary support to participate in the initiative.
He said, “The development of Lekki Port today is the result of the collaboration of everyone, including government agencies and the host communities. I want to appreciate all of you for working together with us. I also want to specially appreciate the University of Lagos and its faculty members. The students are very talented, and the sculptures and paintings they have produced are truly impressive.”
Also speaking, Head of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Lagos, Prof. John Adenle, praised Lekki Port for creating an opportunity for the students to apply their classroom knowledge, explore their creativity and showcase their talents in a practical environment.
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Adenle explained that the artworks went beyond aesthetic expressions, noting that they documented the history of the host community, reflected its present transformation and offered perspectives on its future.
“Art goes beyond creating beautiful works; it is also a means of documenting history, interpreting the present and projecting into the future. Through these artworks, the students have captured the history of this community and reflected on its transformation. We appreciate Lekki Port for allowing them to explore their creativity, apply their knowledge and showcase their talents beyond the classroom,” he said.
He also acknowledged the port’s sustained partnership with the university and appreciated the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, for providing an enabling environment for students to develop their talents.
Speaking on her winning entry, Kolawole explained that her painting, which depicted a ship emerging from an eggshell, represented the humble beginnings of Lekki Port and its evolution into a major maritime hub.
She described the award as a major encouragement to further develop her artistic abilities, particularly her interest in painting, which she said she had only recently begun exploring.
Similarly, Udoh, one of the creators of the winning sculpture, Hands of Nations, said the artwork represented hands from different races and parts of the world coming together to form the Lekki Port logo.
According to him, the sculpture symbolised international cooperation and the collective efforts that contributed to the development of the port.
He expressed excitement over the recognition, describing the opportunity to display the work at Lekki Port as a valuable experience that would motivate him to further develop his artistic skills.
The exhibition’s grand finale attracted representatives of key stakeholders in the maritime and port sectors, including Lagos Free Zone, Nigerian Ports Authority, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base Lekki, Nigeria Police Force, Port Health, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority and Standards Organisation of Nigeria, among others.
