Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised to continue in the footsteps of his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, in the area of free education in the state.
Ambode stated this on Tuesday at the 2015 Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation /Chevron joint venture National Art Competition for Nigerian Secondary Schools.
The NNPC /Chevron Joint Venture (JV), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, initiated the National Art Competition for Nigerian secondary school students in 2005. African Artists Foundation (AAF), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the promotion and development of contemporary African Art, is the implementation partner to the competition which creates a platform for students to exhibit their talents through their art works.
The competition which is in its 10th edition, saw both public and private schools across the country, put in to win the coveted prize.
Representing Ambode at the occasion was the Special Adviser to the Lagos State government on Education, Hon. Bankole Obafela-Moore, who said the state government, under the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode, is geared towards continuous funding of free education both at the primary and secondary school levels in the state.
Obafela-Moore appreciated the NNPC and Chevron group for demonstrating the spirit of corporate entity.
According to him, the competition will “discover more talents in arts and students will be rewarded particularly.”
Six hundred art entries were said to have been received from 400 schools across the country after judges from non-governmental agencies were employed for the screening.
10 finalists each emerged from the primary and secondary schools category, making 20 overall.
Each of the finalists were presented with awards, after which the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in each category were presented with scholarships.
The 3rd position received the sum of N65, 000, 2nd place, N75, 000, while the 1st position got N100, 000. The scholarships will run for three years.
Commending the efforts of the initiators of the yearly Scholarship, winner of the Senior School category, 15-year-old Ukaegbu Christopher from Hallel College Boarding, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said it is a rare privilege given to the Nigerian students by the organisers.
Ukaegbu encouraged his fellow students to work harder and not give up.
Chevron’s Manager, Social Performance and Planning, Tunji Idowu in his closing remarks, assured the students of continuous sponsorship of the yearly event as the corporation sees it as a way of developing the Nigerian educational system, likewise the students.
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