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NEXT reporter, Allwell Okpi, has emerged winner in the grand finale of the 2011 Lagos Photo Amateur Photography Competition, which held on February 17 at the Civic Centre, Lagos.

Two others, Sodiya Olushina and Tosin Oshinowo came second and third respectively behind Okpi, a Metro desk journalist whose beat is the city of Lagos. The competition, themed ‘Lagos Under the Prism’ is the first of its kind and is for amateur photographers. It was spearheaded and sponsored by the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) and the telecommunications company, Etisalat.

Okpi emerged the winner out of 25 finalists who were shortlisted by a jury panel on criteria such as: creativity, composition, relevance to theme, technical quality and overall impression. All three got gift prizes from Etisalat, with Okpi taking home the top prize of a Blackberry phone and a professional Nikon Camera.

The final exhibition at the Civic Centre not only featured entries by the finalists, but also pictures taken by pupils of the primary section of Grange School, Lagos. The school children also got gifts for participation.

The competition was part of the 2010 International Lagos Photo Festival; the first major photography festival in Nigeria, organised by the AAF. During the festival, tagged ‘Lagos Photo’, exhibitions of works by local and international artists were held at various venues in the city of Lagos. The Amateur Photography Competition was organised to encourage up and coming amateur photographers and to involve them in the festival.

Speaking during a brief speech at the award ceremony, Zainab Ashadu, Assistant Director of the AAF, said, “The Lagos Photo Project is to nurture and support the development of the artist.” She also expressed gratitude to Etisalat for partnering with and supporting not just the exhibition but also the AAF. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Etisalat, John Murray, represented the CEO of Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans, at the event.”At Etisalat we are familiar with creativity,” Murray said in his address. He also shed light on the company’s partnership with the AAF and congratulated the winners.

Good for Lagos

Tunji Adebiyi, representing Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, at the event, said that Photography is record keeping. “This will help us to keep records. “Lagos State is interested in programmes like this. We will support any other ‘Lagos Photo’ in the future”, he added. Adebiyi expressed delight at the fact that school children were allowed to take part in the competition, saying, “These are the leaders of tomorrow and I am glad we are catching them young.” Certificates were presented to each of the 25 finalists before the winners were announced.

The Amateur Photography Competition was launched in October last year and was open to amateur photographers, youths and even school children. By the time the call for entries closed on January 30, 110 entries had been received. The jury panel however reviewed the images and short listed 50 entries which were finally whittled down to 25 finalists. The framed photographs were displayed alongside short notes providing additional information. Varying subjects were expressed through the photos but the main focus was Lagos.

Okpi’s award-winning photograph is titled ‘Approaching Lagos Island’ and “shows the perspective of the city from the eyes of the fishermen and merchant women who trawl the lagoon for daily bread.” Oshinowo’s ‘Great Expectations’, a photo in black and white, is ‘a story that focuses predominantly on unique spaces in the city that are not celebrated’; while Shodiya’s work also reflects an aspect of the Lagos scenery.

Surprised winner

The winner, Okpi, was surprised and overwhelmed by his win. Speaking to fellow journalists after he had received his prize, Okpi said, “I wasn’t expecting to win. I stumbled on the advert on the internet. I had just returned from a tour where I had taken some snapshots.” He revealed that while on tour, he had visited Makoko, the deprived Lagos community built on water, where people live in matchbox-like wooden shacks on the Lagoon. “I was amazed that they had a life on water. I just had to take shots,” Okpi said.

“I went through all the photos and this one told the story of what poor Lagosians go through; those in the rural areas who are not a part of Fashola’s Mega City plan.” He added that, “Photography is like a hobby for me.” However with his recent win, will he still continue to treat photography as just a pastime? He replied, “I think I am going to step up on it. Now that I have won, I will take it more seriously.”