ACE student emerges best at National Arts Competition

By Sade Adewale
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The Provost, Adeyemi College of Education Ondo, Dr. Samuel Akintunde, has expressed happiness over  the exploit made by a student of the institution, Victor Laoye, at an Arts competition held in November 2019 in Enugu, Enugu State, where the student made the College proud.

The competition, which was the 13th edition to be organised for youth between the ages of 5 and 35 in the country since its debut in year 2007, tagged; “Life in My City Art Festival” (LIMCAF) was a vision of Chief Robert Orji.

At the grand finale of the 2019 competition themed “The Other Side” which held at the International Conference Centre, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Olaoye defeated more than 500 artists and five runners-up, who participated in the preliminary and final stages of the competition,  to win the star prize of N500,000 cash award and a plaque.

In addition, the year four student of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo would join five other artists to participate in an International Art Competition,  slated to hold at Dakar Art Biennale in 2020.

Speaking in his office,  while receiving the award winner, Victor Laoye and other students of the College who participated in the competition and some lecturers from the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, the Provost congratulated the department and the students for the exploit.

He said, “One thing you have proved today is that we are not second class to any institution.”

“You have also proved that the best can come from a College of Education. I thank the elders in the department. You are doing your best to elevate the department to a higher height and to see that it continues to be vibrant.

“What we are going to do is to prove  that the College deserves the award. We shall make noise about the achievement and we shall also celebrate you,” he stated.

While urging staff of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts not to relent in their efforts at promoting excellence, Dr Akintunde  emphasized the need for them to open the doors of opportunities to other students of the College desiring to acquire skills.

Responding, the Dean, School of Vocational and Technical Education, Dr. Adewale Ajayi, expressed gratitude to the College Management for providing the necessary support and encouragement to the students, before, during and after the competition.

The LIMCAF competition is a yearly celebration of creativity, featuring young talents in the Nigerian art landscape between ages 5 and 35 years.

The grand finale and award night attracted practising visual artists, art administrators, curators, art enthusiasts and teachers.

Several eminent personalities from all walks of life including the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; renowned artist, Dr. Bruce Onabrakpeya and Prof. Ola Oloidi among others graced the occasion.