Caught a glimpse of a couple of radiantly designed LagBuses with childlike creativity? That is the work of some select schools kids in Lagos, as initiated by prolific artist, Polly Alakija towards the Lagos at 50 celebration. Gboyega Alaka witnessed their first official outing at the ‘One Lagos’ brand launch and reports.
As the bells toll and the countdown to the Lagos at 50 celebration hots up, many individuals and organisations are keying in into the celebration, which seems to have begun in earnest with the official launch of the ‘One Lagos’ brand by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode last week.
One such person is famed artist in residence, Polly Alakija, who is taking school kids on the journey. Alakija is revving up kids in some select primary schools across Lagos to be part of the historic event through her art initiative aimed at getting the kids to unleash their creativity on a few Lagbuses otherwise known as BRT and tell their own version of the Lagos story.
Collaborating with the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the LagBus management, Alakija hopes to get the kids to be part of the celebration by creatively designing up to five buses that will uniquely capture how they perceive Lagos in their innocent minds. One bus with designs fully completed and bearing the colourful creations of the kids of Archbishop Taylor Memorial Primary School and Kuramo Primary School both on Victoria Island, was on display on Day 1 of the official launch of the ‘One Lagos’ brand at the former bar beach Arcade, Victoria Island.
The proud kids of both schools eagerly rode on the bus in the short ride between their schools and the Bar Beach venue and it was without doubt a thing of pride as heads turned and people marvelled at what the kids have been able to come up with.
Even Tourism, Arts and Culture commissioner, Folarin Coker could not hide his admiration as he openly extolled the kids creativity and engaged them in lively conversations.
According to Alakija, “Lagos turning 50 is an event for anybody who’s got anything to do with Lagos. So we are doing something to celebrate Lagos. The kids for instance are completely blank about Lagos turning 50. But all schools should be doing something to celebrate Lagos. I just wanted to do something that is positive fun. What are those things that bring Lagos together? That’s what the One Lagos brand is about and that’s what the kids have tried to capture in their innocence.
“We thought it will be a great idea to get the kids involved. So I thought what we can do is to get the kids to do a design. Each school get to design one LagBus. Right now we have one bus, but it’s work in progress. Because it’s a new concept, we really hope to get the right support. So I’m now hoping that people will begin to understand what we’re trying to do. Of course people need to see what we have done with this bus to understand what we’re trying to achieve.”
Alakija however clarified that the initiative is entirely a private one, though enjoying the endorsement and support of the Tourism, Arts and Culture ministry. She said the initiative becomes even more important, when one considers the fact that the main focus of the ‘One Lagos’ project has been more of entertainment and tourism. So she said “The idea is to introduce art into the whole thing. If it’s coming under arts and culture, then it can’t just be entertainment alone.”
Beaming with pride, Alakija said the whole design on the bus is entirely a creation of the kids, adding that it just gives an insight into what the future holds.
Alakija says buses design is open to corporate sponsorship. “We’re looking forward to reaching out for corporate sponsorship. I’ve got a couple of corporate organisations already signed up. The total package is affordable in terms of sponsorship but the mileage is huge. We plan to have these buses on the road for one year, so you can imagine what that means. Hopefully, the next few buses will not just bear ‘One Lagos’ logo but that of sponsors.”
She however cautioned that it’s going to be soft branding and not one where a potential sponsor would hope to paint the whole bus in their brand colour, thereby obstructing the original concept.
Alakija is doing this with the support of some young volunteers: Kelvin Agboso, John Isreal, Abayomi Olabode, Bankole Olabode and Ajaero Anthony Uchenna; most of whom are artists and students of Yaba College of Technology, and her amiable PA, Gbemisola Sasore.
The lads are of the GetReal team; a soft skills youth project, created and powered by Diana Yeside Johnson’s TMPL (Team Management Partnership Limited) to build conflict management, cultural diversity, self-awareness and self-worth and independence in young people.
According to Agboso, Isreal and Bankole, their main contribution has been in guiding the kids and teaching them how to ‘draw, cut and paste,’ which they confess has been an amazing experience for them.
Bankole says “The designs have been more of Lagos and the things that makes the city tick, such as the Eyo masquerade, the yellow buses, molue buses and the people.”
Tourism, Arts and Culture commissioner, Folarin Coker, in a chat with reporters at the venue of the ‘One Lagos Brand Launch’ said the project was conceived to drive economic growth across the state, by taking advantage of the over 20million population strength, diverse culture and tourism potentials, which he said cut across entertainment, religion, business, leisure and even food.
He expressed delight that somebody in the calibre of Polly Alakija is complementing the whole project and countdown to Lagos at 50 celebration with her art initiative and especially getting the kids to be an integral part of it.
“The message of the artwork of the kids is evoking deep thought. Even though we have entertainment for adult, we have now been able to engage children.”
