Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu State governor has assured youth of the state that his administration will continue to promote initiatives capable of deepening the hope and aspiration of the people of the coal city.
“In Enugu state, we firmly believe that in all our difficulties as a nation, the greatest message we must give to the youth is the message of hope, strengthened by our determination to continue to create a platform for hope, and an enabling environment for the youths to thrive,” he said during the gala and award night of the 15th edition of the Life in My City Arts Festival (LIMCAF) organised in partnership with the MTN Foundation, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
Ugwuanyi who was represented by Chidi Aroh, the commissioner for Lands, Enugu state, commended the efforts of the organisers of the LIMCAF. “I must appreciate the efforts of the board of trustees and organisers of the Life in my City Arts Festival, who has nurtured this festival even till this day, and to all the sponsors who have also invested in this. It is a great thing that we are sending messages to the world through expressions of art”.
Following the successful regional exhibitions across eight states in the country, where the top 100 artworks were selected; the artworks of 25 artists made it to the winning spot. 14 artists received consolation prizes, five artists received cash gifts from individual sponsors, while the five best artists in different categories including textile design, photography, graphics design, ceramics and painting, all received N250,000 each, and the overall winner received a cash prize of N500,000.
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Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation, stated that the LIMCAF objective aligns with the Foundation’s mandate on youth empowerment, and commended the LIMCAF committee and stated that the Foundation does not regret sponsoring the Life in My City Arts Festival.
“My advice to all young artists here is that you learn to work on your communication skills. Proper communication and education about your artwork are very important, and it is a key factor to helping an artist sell their works,” Okoro stated.
According to Okoro, MTN Foundation has actively invested in empowering Nigerian youth in the arts and creative industry through partnerships on various creative projects and theatre productions. “Over the years, the Foundation has invested over N380 million in art and theatre projects, and over 3,000 young creatives and skilled professionals have benefitted from the Foundation’s support,” he stated.
Uke Kalu, chairman, LIMCAF, stated that the festival would not have been possible without the help of the different corporates and individual sponsors. “A word of sincere gratitude to all our sponsors who give us the opportunity to contribute to youth development in Nigeria. A special thanks to MTN Foundation for their continued support over the years. I am proud to say that evidence points to the fact that your efforts have not been in vain,” he stated.
