The 2017 edition of the VISION of The CHILD, VoTC, entered its third phase on Saturday, May 6, 2017 with the live presentation of projects by the 40 past winners of previous editions at the Freedom Park, Lagos.
The event attended by the 40 participants, their parents and teachers, and over 100 other students from schools around Lagos, kicked off with the opening of the exhibition of “One Thousand and One Faces of Corruption,” being the collection of paintings from VoTC 2013 edition by same title.
The exhibition of over 50 works was declared open by the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, with support of the Nobel laureate, and chief visioner of the VoTC, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
Magu praised the vision that gave birth to the collections of paintings, saying that he was impressed with the depth of knowledge displayed by the students (ages 10-15) about the nature of corruption, and the corrosive socio-economic impact of the cankerworm. He said it was a great idea to initiate the young ones into the national discourse about how destructive corruption is to the development of the nation.
Soyinka warned that adults, especially parents, political and economic leaders, should stop living in delusion that their children and wards are not aware or conscious of their irresponsible acts of looting the treasury and wastage of national resources.
The children, he said, can see and understand when their parents acquire wealth illegally, and they understand that it is their future that is being adversely affected by such acts of corruption. He encouraged the young ones to develop the courage to challenge their parents, especially when they noticed that they suddenly started to acquire wealth, and buying up properties and all such everywhere.
The student-painters then took the EFCC chairman, Prof Soyinka, and other guests round their works, explaining how they developed their themes, and how they approached their work.
For the main event, winners of the VoTC, between 2012 and 2016, were invited in February to participate in the special edition; which is dedicated to the ongoing 50th anniversary celebration of creation of Lagos State.
The scope of their project was to search through the State for any feature that best illustrates the Festival motto: ENHANCE THE HERITAGE; ADVANCE THE FUTURE. Their choices were based on Information Technology, Architectural (Building or Landscaping), Street Decor, Transportation, Motor Park, Leisure Park, Public or Private Institutions, Public Facilities, government policies, Performances, Innovations, Educational models, Films, Campaigns, Market, Factory and others.
Participants wrote individual essay or poem on their choice, provided an exposition on the choice; even where such idea was non-material.
The contestant presented their individual creative ideas before live audience on Saturday, May 6, 2017 through the medium of Painting, Literary Arts, Music, Dance and Photography.
Prior to the Saturday live presentations, they had gone through various stages, which included a three-day workshop and training conducted by selected professionals and experts in the various identified disciplines and subjects, to guide them on their project choices.
Exhibition of the works (projects) produced under the theme –“Enhance the Heritage, Advance the Future” — will be opened formally by 10am on Friday, May 26, 2017 at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island.
Designed as part of the climax of the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of creation of Lagos State, the opening will be followed by an Award Dinner at 6pm at same venue.
Recall that the 2016 Gala Award ceremony had been used by the Executive Governor of the State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to flag off the year-long (May-2-May) celebration of the 50th anniversary celebration of the State.
The VoTC project has received tremendous support from Diamond Bank and Lagos State Government since 2012. Thus for the 2017 edition, prizes will be donated and presented by Diamond Bank.
About VoTC:
The Vision of the Child is a yearly programme, inaugurated April 2012 with the theme ‘The Vision of the Child’. The maiden edition laid the groundwork for subsequent editions and themes, which were:
(2013) -“The Thousand and One Faces Of Corruption;”
(2014) — The Rule Of Law And The Law Of Impunity;”
(2015) — The Road to Sambisa”.
(2015) – Sisi-Eko@50; ageing gracefully? Or Na So So Pancake.
One Hundred and Seventy-Three (173) paintings produced by finalists in the previous editions are expected to be mounted permanently in a hall of fame soon.
