Lekki Port handed out one million naira in cash awards to students from the University of Lagos after an art contest held at the seaport’s Ibeju-Lekki facility on November 5, 2026, according to AllAfrica. The event aimed to highlight the deep seaport’s evolution and its ties with nearby residents. Twenty-seven pieces were submitted by students in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, split between 16 paintings and 11 sculptures.
Joseph Udoh, Tope Ebini, and Israel Morenikeji took top honors in the sculpture section with their piece, Hands of Nations. The artwork showed diverse hands joining to create the port’s emblem, representing global cooperation in its construction. Gabriel Pedepo’s sculpture, 49 Approvals, placed second. Ifeoluwa Odushe’s Behind the Scene and James Afolabi’s Nose Mask shared third place. In the painting division, Eunice Kolawole won first prize, ahead of Samuel Idowu Ogundipe. Favour Sinmiloluwa Akande and Bonuedi Emmanuella Dzifa tied for third. Kolawole explained that her painting of a ship breaking out of an eggshell symbolized the port’s modest origins and its rise as a significant maritime center.
First-place artists in both categories earned N500,000. Runners-up received N300,000 for second place and N150,000 for third. Wang Qiang, the port’s managing director, praised the students’ imaginative approaches to interpreting the facility’s identity. He emphasized that the seaport’s expansion relies on joint efforts by state bodies, local residents, and various partners, calling for continued teamwork to fuel its progress. Qiang also thanked the university and its teaching staff for their role in the project.
Prof. John Adenle, who heads the Fine and Applied Arts department, stated that the display allowed learners to put their academic training into practice and present their skills outside the lecture hall. He observed that the pieces recorded the local area’s past and captured its changing landscape. The gathering drew delegates from multiple state agencies and maritime players, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the Lagos Free Zone.