Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has expressed delight at the
activities of the Life In My City Festival (LIMCAF), a private
initiative that promotes creativity among Nigerian youths. The
Governor, who hosted members of the Board of Trustees of the festival
at his Lion House office in Enugu, urged the board to keep him
informed about the progress of their preparations for this year's
special anniversary edition which will end on October 29.
The courtesy call was led by the board Chairman Elder K. U. Kalu, a
former Chairman of Union Bank and Managing Director Skoup, accompanied
by Chief Loretta Aniagolu a member of the Governor's Economic Advisory
Team and Principal Partner, FIT Consult, Chairman of the State Council
for Arts and Culture, Dr. Obiora Anidi; a Chief Lecturer and Head,
Department of Graphic Design IMT and Art Director of the Festival, Mr.
Ayo Adewunmi, CEO Artsaels Ltd Mr. Tayo Adenaike, Mr Chuka Orji son
and representative of the Founder of Life In My City, Chief Robert
Orji and Mr Kevin Ejiofor, a former Director-General FRCN and
Executive Director of the Festival.
The trustees briefed the governor about the aims, objectives and
vision of the festival which is not just a youth empowerment project
but also a burgeoning national and international art and culture
tourism destination and therefore a future source of significant
contribution to the GDP of Enugu State and Nigeria.
In a presentation, Mr. Kevin Ejiofor explained that this year's
edition would be the 10th anniversary of the Festival at which past
winners and donors and other specially invited prominent guests were
expected.
He spoke on past winners of the festival's overall prize who are now
significantly advancing their careers in various ways. Such winners he
said, included Mr. Olamide Oresegun the Festival's first overall
winner in 2007 as a student at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and
Ngozi Omeje now a Phd student at the University of Nigeria who also
later won the Nigerian Breweries National Art Competition.
Mr. Ejiofor disclosed that LIMCAF was now seeking a working
partnership with the Institute of Management and Technology Enugu to
become the intellectual home of the festival as it now seeks to deepen
and broaden its impact in contemporary art in the Nigerian and
international art world.
"Enugu State young artists have won the overall prize at four of the
nine editions of the Festival so far," he added.
According to Ejiofor, the festival has hosted some high profile art
personalities in its panels of judges including professors of art in
premier institutions in Nigeria and Africa, internationally renowned
gallery operators, contemporary art scholars and promoters, high
profile studio artists such as Jerry Buhari, Chike Aniakor, Kunle
Filani, Bisi Silva, Frank Ugiomoh, Ayo Aina, Muhammed Muazu, Tony
Okpe, Obiora Anidi, Nsikka Essien and Jacob Jari.
"There have also been academic papers and other such contributions
during some of the earlier editions of the festival by highly learned
academics including Pita Ejiofor, Ola Oloidi, Chike Aniakor and Kryzd
Ikwuemesi, with external support from Obiora Udechukwu, Mor Faye
(Senegal) and Akwele Suma-Glory (Ghana) among others.
"The Photo Africa contest for young African photo artists under 35
years of age was added to the festival's portfolio in 2012 and has
since attracted entries from not less than 18 African countries with
jurors drawn from Nigeria, South Africa, Australia including such
renowned photography experts as Tam Fiofori, Timipre Amah, James
Iroha, Emeka Egwuibe, Piere Duffour (France), Margie MacClelland
(Australia), and John Fleetwood (South Africa)," he said.
He noted that the most interesting development in recent years is the
endowment of prizes by prominent families, individuals and
institutions including the Justice Anthony Aniagolu prize, the Pius
Okigbo Prize, the Centre for Contemporary Art prize, the Mfon Usoro
Prize, and the Thought Pyramid Art Gallery Prize among others.
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