Students of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), have demonstrated their creative ingenuity by translating the history and development of Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s first deep-sea port, into compelling paintings and sculptures that capture the vision, collaboration, resilience and experiences behind the landmark maritime project.
The exhibition, held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Lekki Port, featured artworks by 15 UNILAG students, who creatively interpreted the port’s journey from conceptualisation to completion, highlighting the collaboration, resilience and perseverance that shaped its emergence.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Lekki Deep Sea Port, Mr Wang Qiang, commended the students for their creativity and expressed appreciation to the host communities for providing the land on which the port operates.
He explained that the exhibition was designed to tell the story of Lekki Port, including the challenges encountered during its establishment, particularly the extensive engagements with government authorities before the necessary approvals were secured.
Mr Qiang described the exhibition as a product of collaboration among the port management, government agencies, host communities, and the University of Lagos. He noted that the students had demonstrated exceptional talent in interpreting the port’s history through art.
He further explained that the initiative formed part of the port’s human capital development programme, which seeks to support indigent students in its host communities and provide opportunities for them to pursue their educational and career aspirations.
In his remarks, the Head of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Lagos, Professor John Adenle, commended Lekki Port for its sustained support for the Department and for creating opportunities for students to demonstrate and develop their creative abilities.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, for providing an enabling environment for students to thrive. He also appreciated the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Akanbi Ilupeju, for facilitating the initial partnership between the Department and Lekki Port, as well as the support of the Dean, Faculty of Creative Arts, Professor Stephen Olusoji.
Professor Adenle noted that the project underscored the importance of art as a means of documenting history, preserving collective memories, and offering perspectives on the future.
He particularly appreciated Lekki Port Management and other participating organisations for extending the initiative beyond university students to include young people from the host communities.
The exhibition featured paintings and sculptures exploring themes such as resilience, collaboration, perseverance, racial equality, innovation, and technology. The paintings employed different artistic forms and techniques, including acrylic, oil on canvas, and semi-abstract compositions, while the sculptures interpreted the experiences and stories of residents of the Lekki community during the port’s establishment.
As part of the creative process, the students were introduced to the history of the port and challenged to interpret its development through their individual artistic expressions. This resulted in works that captured the contributions of different stakeholders to the landmark project.
At the end of the competition, cash prizes were presented to outstanding participants in the painting and sculpture categories.
Winners in both categories received ₦500,000 for first place, ₦300,000 for second place, and ₦150,000 for third place. There were joint third-place winners in both categories.
In the sculpture category, Hands of Nations, produced by Joseph Udoh, Tope Ebini, and Israel Morenikeji, emerged first. 49 Approvals, by Gabriel Pedepo, secured second place, while Behind the Scene, by Ifeoluwa Odushe, and Nose Mask, by James Afolabi, jointly placed third.
In the painting category, Kolawole Eunice Morenikeji emerged first, followed by Samuel Idowu Ogundipe in second place. Favour Sinmiloluwa Akande and Bonuedi Emmanuella Dzifa jointly secured third place.
