The Fobally Art World Africa Students National and State Art Competition has once again proven why it is one of the most eagerly anticipated creative events of 2025. Showcasing outstanding young talents from across Nigeria, this year’s Grand Finale was a celebration of imagination, skill, and artistic brilliance. At the heart of the excitement was Iyiola Joshua of Mountain Top University, whose remarkable victory and claim of the coveted diadem underscored not only his extraordinary talent but also the competition’s role as a dynamic platform shaping the future of African art.

Words iBAND Magazine Editorial team | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger!

It was a superb moment as Fobally Art World Africa National and State Art Competition 2025, dazzled once again, proving that the future of Nigerian art is as daring as it is vibrant. Now in its fourth edition, the competition brought together a wave of creativity from secondary school students and undergraduates across the nation. Lagos State’s secondary school artists explored the theme “My Aspired Lagos,” offering fresh, imaginative visions of their city, while undergraduates painted bold pictures of possibility under “My Aspired Nation.” The event was a vivid celebration of talent, innovation, and the unbridled spirit of young Nigerian artists.

The competition challenged the competitors to create works that expressed the innocence, intuition, and fearless curiosity often associated with nation building. Both themes for the 2025 competition celebrated the purity of vision that young artists bring to the canvas concerning the society they live in.

And for days preparations intensified for the 2025 edition of the Fobally Art Competition, the event unfolded with a series of vibrant live auditions from Monday, 10th November to Thursday, 13th November, and continued on Wednesday, 19th November at the Fobally Art Gallery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Undergraduate students showcased their skills through live painting sessions on the 10th, 11th, and 19th of November, while Lagos State secondary school students auditioned on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th November. The programme culminated in a grand finale on the 20th of November at the Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Oniru, Lagos, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., where the most outstanding young artists were celebrated for their creativity, dedication, and artistic excellence.

While it is of noteworthy that the grand finale was a colourful and inspiring celebration of artistic talents, opened with welcoming remarks by Mrs. Folasade Abiola, Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of Fobally Art Gallery. The keynote address was delivered by the guest speaker, Dr. Lemmy Omololu Omoyinmi, whose insights set a thoughtful tone for the event. Dr. Omoyinmi, a lecturer at the Lagos State University Business School and an international consultant to the International Trade Centre, the development partner supporting export advancement brought a rich blend of academic depth and global perspective to the gathering.

The evaluation panel was led by Dr. Kunle Adeyemi, former Dean of the School of Art, Design and Printing at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, alongside a distinguished team of jurors. According to Mrs. Abiola, the candidates were assessed based on clearly defined criteria that ensured fairness and depth of judgment. These included originality, creativity, adherence to the competition’s theme, effective use of visual elements, the ideology behind each piece, and the overall neatness and presentation of the artwork.

Element Winner, the master of ceremonies, brought energy and flair to the grand finale, guiding each segment with remarkable ease. The cultural dancers, made up of vibrant young performers, infused the event with colour and rhythm. In a thoughtful gesture, Fobally Art World Africa also honoured schools, past participants, and former jurors, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the competition over the last four years.

In the undergraduate category, Iyiola Joshua of Mountain Top University distinguished himself as the overall winner, impressing judges with remarkable technique, vision, and thematic depth. He went home with a coveted prize of One Million Naira Only (N1,000,000). While Popoola Goodness of Lagos State University earned the position of first runner-up, demonstrating strong artistic promise and a unique personal style. Coming in as second runner-up, Waris Kareem from Obafemi Awolowo University delivered an evocative entry that reflected both skill and emotional resonance, affirming his rising profile in the art community.

The secondary school division was equally competitive, revealing the next generation of artistic talent. Chinoso Mba of Ambassador College emerged as the winner with the competition prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N500,000) captivating the panel with creativity well beyond his years. Lawal Ziyaadah from At-Tanzeel Secondary School secured the first runner-up position through strong artistic expression and disciplined craftsmanship. The second runner-up spot went to Dong Jodie of Holy Child College, whose work displayed impressive imagination and technical growth. Together, these young winners highlight the potency of Nigeria’s art landscape and the promise of a bright creative future. Monetary consolation prizes were also presented to all the runners – up in the two categories.

Beyond the winners, the competition served as a platform to spotlight dozens of promising young artists whose works touched on identity, community, spirituality, environment, and the search for belonging. Fobally Art Gallery continues to position itself as a crucial bridge between emerging creatives and Nigeria’s broader art ecosystem, ensuring that the next generation has both visibility and opportunity.

Fobally Art World Africa is a dynamic creative hub dedicated to promoting professional and talented African artists, amplifying their work for both local and global visibility.

As Nigeria’s creative industry expands, competitions like this remind us that art, at its core, is an act of wonder which often best expressed by those who see the world with unfiltered eyes. Through their childlike courage and limitless imagination, these young artists are not just participating in the future of Nigerian art, they are defining it.

The 2025 Fobally Art Gallery National and State Art Competition closed on a high note, celebrating the ingenuity and vision of Nigeria’s emerging artists. From Lagos State secondary school students bringing “My Aspired Lagos” to life, to undergraduates envisioning “My Aspired Nation,” the event highlighted a generation unafraid to dream boldly. This fourth edition reaffirmed that the future of Nigerian art is vibrant, fearless, and brimming with limitless potential.