Lekki Deep Seaport has celebrated the creative talents of University of Lagos students with an art exhibition showcasing paintings and sculptures inspired by the port’s development and its relationship with host communities.
The exhibition, held on Thursday, 5 November 2026, brought together students from UNILAG’s Department of Fine and Applied Arts, who submitted 27 entries across two categories namely 16 paintings and 11 sculptures.
In the sculpture category, the collaborative work ‘Hands of Nations’, created by Joseph Udoh, Tope Ebini and Israel Morenikeji, emerged winner. Gabriel Pedepo’s ‘49 Approvals’ came second, while ‘Behind the Scene’ by Ifeoluwa Odushe and ‘Nose Mask’ by James Afolabi shared third place.
In the painting category, Kolawole Eunice Morenikeji clinched the top prize, followed by Samuel Idowu Ogundipe in second place. Favour Sinmiloluwa Akande and Bonuedi Emmanuella Dzifa jointly secured third position.
Winners in both categories received ₦500,000 each, while the first and second runners-up were awarded ₦300,000 and ₦150,000, respectively.
Speaking at the event, held at the port facility in Ibeju-Lekki, Lekki Port Managing Director, Wang Qiang, commended the students for transforming the port’s history, identity and development into compelling works of art.
“The development of Lekki Port today is the result of collaboration among all stakeholders, including government agencies and host communities. The students are remarkably talented, and their sculptures and paintings reflect an impressive understanding of the port’s journey,” Qiang said.
The Head of UNILAG’s Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Professor John Adenle, praised the port management for providing students with a platform to showcase their creativity beyond the classroom.
He said the artworks served not only as expressions of artistic talent but also as historical records of the transformation taking place around the port and its host communities.
“Art goes beyond creating beautiful works; it is a means of documenting history, interpreting the present and projecting into the future,” Adenle said.
He also acknowledged the support of UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, for initiatives that promote students’ creative development.
Speaking on her winning entry, Eunice Kolawole said her painting, which depicts a ship emerging from an eggshell, symbolises the seaport’s humble beginnings and its rapid emergence as a major maritime hub.
Udoh, meanwhile, explained that his team’s winning sculpture, ‘Hands of Nations’, features hands representing different races coming together to form the Lekki Port logo, symbolising international cooperation and the power of global partnerships.
The exhibition’s grand finale attracted a strong turnout of maritime and industry stakeholders, including representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Police Force.
