Segun Owolabi has emerged winner of the 2025 Elder Kalu U Kalu Young Artist of the Year Award, valued at ₦3 million.
Owolabi was announced as the winner by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe during the Life in My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) grand finale held in Enugu.
The well-attended event drew together contestants, art enthusiasts, scholars, captains of industry, and government officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of LIMCAF, Mr. Kevin Ejiofor, said the festival had continued to provide a formidable platform for young and aspiring Nigerian artists to showcase their creativity.
Ejiofor noted that what began in 2007 as a modest initiative had evolved into a major art movement where professional artists mentor emerging talents.
According to him, LIMCAF has helped to change long-held negative perceptions about art as a career, particularly among parents and guardians.
He explained that the theme of this year’s exhibition, “Can We Breathe,” reflects the collective yearnings of young Nigerians and challenges them to engage critically with the realities of the country.
Ejiofor added that beyond the exhibition, LIMCAF supports artists by facilitating the sale of their works and sponsoring winners to international art festivals, including exhibitions in Dakar, Senegal.
In his remarks, Gov. Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Mrs. Ugochi Madueke, commended LIMCAF’s vision and its role in inspiring creativity among young Nigerians:
“Enugu State believes in the power of creativity to renew its spirit and shape its future.
We will continue to support initiatives like this—spaces where young people can dream, question, and create freely.
I congratulate the organisers, the artists, and everyone who made this year’s festival a success.”
Also speaking, former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, lauded the participants for their dedication and creativity, urging them to remain steadfast in their artistic pursuits.
He observed that the diverse range of works — spanning drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, and textile art — showcased the depth of Nigeria’s creative talent and unity in diversity.
In his remarks, Igwe Achebe commended LIMCAF for sustaining the festival for 18 years, noting that it has become a vital platform for discovering and nurturing young artistic talent across the country.
He urged Segun Owolabi and other contestants to keep pushing the boundaries of their creativity and to remain committed to their dreams.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of various awards, including consolation prizes, endowment prizes, category awards, and the coveted Young Artist of the Year honour.
