The theme for the fifth edition of the Vision of the Child (VOTC) painting and literary arts competition will no doubt pose a different kind of challenge to the participants who come from across schools in Lagos State every year.
Unveiled as ‘Sisi Eko@50: Ageing Gracefully or Na So-So Pancake?’ By Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, at the head office of Diamond Bank Plc, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently, the silence that greeted its announcement spoke volumes. But those present at the event, including past winners, students, teachers, government functionaries and private citizens, soon cheered excitedly, having figured out the significance of this year’s theme.
According to Soyinka, the choice of theme is to celebrate Lagos, which will turn 50 next year. But, clearly, the burden is now on the participants to determine whether the state is worth celebrating or not, hence the pancake part of the theme.
Explaining that childhood, which he said is idyllic and an invaluable time in an individual’s life, should be filled with sweetness and light, Soyinka lamented that the past few editions of the competition have revolved around gloomy themes, “since life also has its ugliness and pain, and it is in acknowledging these that we can all share in the collective responsibility for good”.
“This year, we have decided on something cheerful to anticipate the 50th anniversary of Lagos State next year. We encourage the VOTC participants to research into the history and character of Eko, which will be reflected in their works,” he said.
Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Ranti Adebule, commended both the organisers and Diamond Bank, sponsors of the contest since its inception five years ago.
Adebule, who has the state’s Ministry of Education in her purview, said areas of collaboration with the organisers would be explored further since their goals were the same with that of the state.
“This vision is in tune with our educational policy in Lagos State and that is why government has participated actively in it since inception… We will continue to do so as long as it provides children the platform to express their understanding of the world they live in, their vision of what it should be, as well as their fantasies and dreams,” she stated.
Adebule commended Diamond Bank for sponsoring the competition, while revealing that VOTC’s collaboration with the Ministry of Education has reached out to over 3,000 schools in Lagos since inception.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Diamond Bank, Uzoma Dozie, re-affirmed his commitment to continue to support laudable projects involving the education of children and the growth of art in the country.
“At Diamond Bank, we try to go beyond banking, and supporting the VOTC is one of our ways of ensuring that we contribute to the growth, development and nurturing of children,” he said.
He stated that the growing innovations in technology points to a future where machines will play leading roles in business, thereby leaving only individuals who have the ability to give insight and vision to be the drivers of the future.
“We believe that the VOTC is at the forefront of that future by creating this platform for children to create pictures from information around them, thereby grooming them to take over the affairs of the business world and the nation as a whole,” Uzoma added.
Throughout the ceremony, some past winners of the competition presented their winning entries to guests, including artists Tola Wewe and Nike Okundaiye, actor Victor Olaitan, representatives of the German and French embassies and students from selected schools across Lagos.
To participate, children aged 8 to 12 in Lagos public and private schools must submit a poem, essay or short story of between 300 and 500 words on the theme.
Registration has since opened and will close on March 4.
