Winners Smile At 2015 NNPC/Chevron
National Art Award And Exhibition
Uzo Chikere
The 2015 Art Competition for Nigerian Secondary Schools
rounded off recently in Lagos with six contestants emerging tops. Sponsored by
the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron Nigerian Ltd. in
a joint venture partnership, the event which climaxed with award and exhibition
ceremony at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, saw the six top finalists winning various
amounts of money prices in the competition staged in two categories of junior
and senior secondary schools.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Chevron Managing
Director represented by the general manager, social performance and planning, Mr.
Tunji Idowu noted that 600 entries were received from about 400 schools, adding
that 20 made it to the final. He said it was the intention of Chevron to
continue encouraging the schools continued participation in the competition.
In his welcome address, the Chairman/managing director
Chevron, Mr. Clay Neff, described this year’s entries as very imaginative and
beautiful even as he expressed the company’s hope that the programme would
assist some of the participants in future solve the challenge of how to remain
creative through the even as they grow older.
On why Chevron, an oil and gas company is sponsoring arts,
Mr. Neff said that it is about celebrating
the arts in line with the company’s social investment programmes which
are aimed at contributing to the development of education, health and
socio-economy, pointing out that:
“Moreover, at Chevron, we hold diversity as one of our core
values. Diversity is not just a buzz word to us; we value and encourage
diversity of thoughts and perspectives. This, by partnering with the Federal
Ministry of Education to sponsor the National Art Competition, we are keeping
faith with the company’s values of partnership and respect for culture and
diversity.”
He further noted that the sponsorship was also aimed at
giving participants the opportunity to express their multiple perspectives of
our environment as there are many ways to see and interpret the world, and hone
their skills.
On its part, the Lagos State government commended the
organizers for demonstrating profound act of social responsibility. Special
adviser to the Lagos State governor on education, who represented the governor
at the occasion, Mr.Bank Olemo, further stated that the competition was one of
the best ways to encourage students to
pursue creativity, just as he appreciated the roles played by private
organisations as well as encouraging more of such private sector initiative in
that direction.
This year’s competition marked the 10th in the
series and produced Ukaegbu Christopher as the overall winner in the senior
category who received =N=100,000.00 cheque for the rest of his secondary
education. In the junior category, Abel Joshua emerged the topmost winner
collecting the same amount for the same purpose.
The first, second runners-up and other finalists were also
awarded various monetary prizes.
No comments:
Post a Comment