The 2025 edition of the Life in My City Art Festival has drawn to a glorious close, marking yet another remarkable celebration of youthful talent, artistic courage, and the unyielding creative spirit of Nigeria’s emerging generation.
From every corner of the nation, young artists gathered in Enugu – each one carrying the voice of their region, the pulse of their communities, and the shared dream of excellence. For five memorable days, the city witnessed art at its finest: bold, provocative, soulful, and deeply Nigerian.
After careful deliberation by a distinguished panel of jurors, the following outstanding artists emerged as laureates of LIMCAF 2025.
A. LIMCAF PRIZES
Elder K. U. Kalu Prize for Young Artist of the Year – N3,000,000
Winner: Segun Victor Owolabi – Entanglement: Sad Generation with Happy Faces – Textile – Taraba Zone
Chinelo Chime Prize for Best Photography – N1,000,000
Winner: Abubakar Mohammed – E Fona A’Da Na I and II – Zaria
Best Painting / Mixed Media – N500,000
Winner: Patricia Ikel Bello – At the Foot of Her Mercy – Port Harcourt Zone
Best Sculpture / Installation – N500,000
Winner: Mba Ukemba – Man – Calabar Zone
Best Ceramics – N500,000
Winner: Audu Phillip Iko – Yes We Can and We Will – Abuja Zone
Best Digital Art / Video – N500,000
Winner: Ipa Anyaole – Voices Unheard – Jos Zone
Best Drawing – N500,000
Winner: Harry Joel Gunduri – Hope in the Shadows – Yola Zone
Most Creative Female Artist – N500,000
Winner: Chinenye Eze – Life Rut – Enugu Zone
Best Entry from an Artist Living with Disability – N500,000
Winner: Ogbodo Daniel - Trap in radiance - Enugu Zone
CONSOLATION PRIZES WINNERS
i.Kayode Oluwa Pelumi – Under the Predatory System – Painting – Enugu Zone
ii.Godfrey Ichile – Endless Sequence of Agonising Torture – Ceramics - Calabar
iii.Igwebe Louis – Dreams Folded in Silence Sculpture – Enugu Zone
iv.Achikanu B.C – The Battle for Creativity – Digital Art – Enugu Zone
v.Akinsowon James – Struggle Continues – Painting – Ibadan Zone
vi.Fagbonhunka Mary – State of the Nation – Painting – Ondo Zone
vii.Adebisi Pearl – Breathe Beneath the Soil – Textile – Osun Zone
viii.Ifeoluwa Oliver – A Whispered Promise – Painting – Ondo Zone
ix.Israel Osage Ifeanyi – Baptism of Fire – Mixed Media – Port- Harcourt Zone
x.Alex Charles - 1999 – Drawing - Lagos Zone
B. ENDOWED PRIZES
Justice Anthony Aniagolu Prize for Originality – N300,000.00
Prince David Kembukem – Beyond Suffocating – Port Harcourt Zone
Dr. Pius Okigbo Prize for Technical Proficiency – N200,000.00
Jesse Kobol – Life in My City – Lagos Zone
Mfom Usoro Prize for the Best Entry from Uyo/Calabar – N200,000.00
Godspower John – Paradox of the Mantra – Calabar Zone
VinMartin Ilo Prize for Best Entry from Enugu – N200,000.00
Christian Imologhome – Rise from the Ashes – Enugu Zone
Fidelia Okoroafor Prize for Most Promising Female Artist – N200,000.00
Idris Sofiat Eniola – Bubbles of Survival – Abeokuta Zone
Agorero Armstrong Prize for Best Entry with Waste Paper – N150,000.00
Ishaya Victor – They Are Between Us – Zaria Zone
Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo Prize for Best Entry by Special Need Artist – N150,000.00
Oyeyemi Adegbola – Struggle for Truth – Abuja Zone
The Jury, chaired by Dr. Anthony Izuchukwu Emodi, with Mr. Dapo Adeniyi, Mr. Chinedu Ogakwu, Dr. Nneka Odoh, and Prof. Adele Garkida as members, delivered a fair and professional assessment, upholding the Festival’s long-standing standards of merit, integrity, and creative innovation.
The 2025 Festival will be remembered not only for the exceptional quality of the works presented but also for the renewed sense of artistic purpose and national unity it inspired. It stands as yet another resounding testimony to the enduring vision of LIMCAF to empower, to celebrate, and to elevate the voices of young Nigerian artists to global recognition.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all winners and participants and our profound gratitude to our partners, sponsors, and patrons for their steadfast support.
