Kunle Kalejaye 118 October 2014, Sweetcrude, Lagos – Idakwo Emmanuel, a 14 year SS2 student of Federal Government College, Keffi, Nasarawa State has won the 9th edition of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Chevron Nigeria Joint Venture, NNPC/Chevron JV, National Art Competition for Nigerian Secondary School students.
The competition which is open to secondary school students in private, state and federal government-owned schools aims to promote creativity in the Nigerian child.
It also seeks to use art to inculcate patriotism about Nigeria from early stages of youth development and demonstrates Chevron’s commitment to youth development.
Emmanuel’s art work was one of the over 640 entries entries from both the Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary categories for the 2014 edition.
The final 20 art works selected by judges featured paintings that portrayed the theme for this year’s competition: ‘Nigeria at 100 Centenary Celebration.
Emmanuel’s painting pictured the map of Nigeria as caring mother carrying her child protectively while dancing to the rhythm of traditional drums, marking 100 years of togetherness for the country.
His work came first for the senior secondary school category while Edijana Faustalus of Owhe Emevor School Multipurpose Group of School, Kano Road, DSC Technical Warri Delta State came first in the junior secondary school category.
Winners, first runner up and second runner up for both senior and junior category went home with a cash prise of N100,000, N75,000 and N60,000 respectively with a scholarship for their entire secondary school education.
Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Clay Neff, said the art competition is one of the activities by the company to uplifting art education in Nigerian secondary school which also aim to raise and sustain students interest in the study of fine and creative art while promoting the spirit of healthy competition.