ART COMPETITION FOR PHYSICALL CHALLENGED CHILDREN

The national competition for the physically challenged children, organised by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in collaboration with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) was recently held in four geo-political zones of the country namely Ibadan, Kaduna, Owerri and Asaba.

The talent-hunt competition for the physically challenged children covered different art forms such as dancing, singing, painting and hanicraft. It is a biannual event initiated in 2003, with the aim of showcasing the inherent talent of special children, to motivate and encourage them to excel in the society.

In his address at the occasion, the Honourable Commission for Education, Oyo State, Dr. Nurem Adeniran commended the efforts of the organisers for deeming it necessary to organise a competition of such nature for children with special needs.

In his words "...this competition will instill a sense of self fulfilment, creativity and positive self confidence in children with special needs..." He further stated that the event will be an avenue for the children with special needs to practically exhibit their hidden abilities, talents and achievement. He posited also, that children with special needs should be encouraged to have a profession which they can be proud of and serve as a means of sustenance and livelihood to them.

In his address at the occasion, The Director-General, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman who was represented in Owerri, Kanud, Asaba and Ibadan by the Curators of the museums, commended Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) for this initiative while urging other good-spirited companies and organisations to collaborate with the Commission to uplift the lives of the physically challenged children in the society.

At the end of the programme, pupils from Christian Mission School for the Deaf took the first position at the Ibadan regional competition while the Lagelu Special School and H.L.A. School for the Handicapped took the second and third positions respectively. At the Kaduna Zonal competition, Abdulrasheed Special School in Sokoto, emerged winner while the second and third positions went to Bashiru Sani and Rilwan Suleiman of Kebbi State.

At the Owerri Zonal competition, Ughemu Chidinma of Special Education School for the Deaf came tops followed by Ebuka Nwaeze and Onyemekukwu Chinenye. The winers who emerged in Asaba Zonal competition are Ayuba Adimu from Madonna Special Science School, followed by Celestine Edet from Special Education Secondary School and Chinedu Onyia of the School of the Handicapped. The event was well attended by numerous guests including Mr. Chukwujindu Ogea - Chairman Museum Society of Delta State, Chief Vitalis Ogada, Lady Ogechi Azubike of the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sir Gab Oduah, Mr. J. O. Ogundele - Curator Asaba Museum, Mr. Jafaru Dauda - Curator Kaduna Museum, Mrs. Nkechi Ihekwaba -a representative of the Child Welfare Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs Owerri, Mr. Okoro Austin - Head of Fine and Applied Arts, Evans Enwerem University, Imo State, Dr. G. Okere, Mrs. P. Oguoma - Head Music Department of Alvan Ikoku College of Education and Mrs. Chioba Francisca Ubo - Curator National Museum Owerri.