(From right, Standing): Mr Olabanjo Alimi - Divisional Head Renewable Energy; Director General, National Theatre, Mrs Tola Akerele, representing the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Mr Don Barber; Mr Mubarak Bakare; Managing Director, Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman; CMO, Sterling Bank, Mr Maurice Igugu; Head of Tourism, Abiola Adelana; Alice Akinsola, Zonal Coordinator, S/West, representing Director General, NTDA, Chief Folarin Coker during the media launch of Uncover Naija at the Sterling Bank head office, Marina, Lagos, Thursday
117 photographers shortlisted, as Uncover Naija aims to amplify Nigeria Tourism
[By VICTOR NZE]
117 photographers and videographers from across the country have been shortlisted in a competition that seeks to provide a lucrative digital platform for creatives in the genre to showcase their talents by capturing through their camera lenses the beauty and richness of Nigeria tourism assets.
The competition, tagged; Uncover Naija, had launched last October 25, courtesy of Torrista, a product of Sterling Bank’s Tourism Business Unit, is fully supported by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism & Creative Economy, and its agency, the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, as well as, the Made by Nigeria (MBN), another initiative of the bank focused on promoting Nigerian creativity and supporting local talent.
With public voting set to commence from November 20, this year, the Uncover Naija competition further aims to spotlight Nigeria’s diverse cultural landscapes and traditions through the lens of talented creatives in the photography genre.
According to Torrista, the Uncover Naija initiative seeks to challenge participants to document Nigeria’s history, city life, landscapes,
people, and natural wonders, offering the world a glimpse into the vibrant stories that define the country.
Welcoming guests to a media launch of the Uncover Naija competition, in Marina, Lagos, Thursday, Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, re-echoed the position of the initiative as he enjoined tourism stakeholders, including the media to amplify the Uncover Naija competition, and by extension, the country’s cultural and tourism legacy.
According to Mr Suleiman, the enormous task of promoting Destination Nigeria as a global tourism brand requires all hands to be deck, stating that Uncover Naija was his bank’s own contribution towards that direction.
“Ultimately we want you to see Nigeria because if you see Nigeria you will buy Nigeria. We want to sell Destination Nigeria through photography. Even when you think you travelled the entire length of Nigeria there are still details you may have missed.
“What we have done through Uncover Naija is present Nigeria in HD to everybody. It’s digital photography like you have never seen before; Nigeria in photographs. Please amplify this for us,” Suleiman said.
Remarking, Director General of the National Theatre, an agency under the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs Tola Akerele, who represented the Minister, Hannatu Musawa, noted that the Uncover Naija initiative aligns with its own agenda of championing ‘the wealth of Nigerian heritage, support creative industries, and foster talent that will tell our country’s unique stories on both local and global stages.’
“Uncover Naija speaks directly to this mission by inviting Nigerians to showcase their cultural roots, talents, and perspectives. Through the competition, we aim to inspire young Nigerians to explore their heritage, share their artistic interpretations, and gain recognition for their contributions to Nigeria’s cultural tapestry.
“Our goal with this competition is not only to uncover the beauty and stories within Nigeria but also to nurture and amplify the voices of young creatives.
“By providing a platform for emerging talent, Uncover Naija aligns with the Ministry’s agenda to nurture local creativity, build the economy around arts and culture, and cultivate a sense of national pride.
“The competition aims to spotlight Nigeria’s untapped creative potential while fostering a deeper appreciation for its unique identity among a wide audience. In addition to this, Uncover Naija is a powerful opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s place on the global tourism stage. Through the lens of each entry, the world will get to see Nigeria’s beauty, diversity, and depth. From our landscapes to our vibrant traditions and welcoming people.
“This competition gives global audiences an authentic look into our culture, which we hope will inspire a growing interest in visiting and experiencing our country firsthand. This initiative will position Nigeria as a cultural and tourism destination, making it a valuable part of our national economic development strategy.”
Akerele, therefore, expressed the hope of ‘seeing Uncover Naija shine as a testament to the extraordinary creativity and resilience of our people.’
Speaking earlier, Head of Tourism at the bank, Abiola Adelana, disclosed that a total number of 526 photographers and videographers from across Nigeria registered for the competition, with 117 of them shortlisted based on the quality of their entries.
According to Adelana, these entries will be open to public voting from November 20, 2024.
“The competition showcases Nigeria’s heritage across five categories: Cultural Heritage; City Life; People & Portraits; Breathtaking Landscapes; Wildlife & Nature.
“Uncover Naija emphasizes the importance of cultural preservation and storytelling,
using the power of visual arts to promote and celebrate Nigeria’s vast cultural diversity.
With cash prizes awarded to 32 exceptional winners, the Uncover Naija will also reward the 1st Place winner with the sum of N2.5 million, and the 2nd Place winner getting N1.5 million while N150, 000 each will be given to a total of 30 runners up in the competition.
Continuing, Adelana disclosed that the initiative will create a digital gallery from works submitted to the competition which will not only provide a showcase for the nation’s most talented visual artists ‘but also serve as a new revenue stream for participants, enabling them to monetize their works and create sustainable careers.’
“Uncover Naija is more than a photography competition, it is a platform that empowers
Nigerian creatives, supports cultural preservation, and promotes Nigeria’s image on the global stage.
“By telling stories through the lens of Nigeria’s heritage, Uncover Naija aims to foster national pride while creating economic opportunities for photographers and videographers.
“Beyond this competition, Uncover Naija also aims to support these artists in a lasting
way. We are excited to announce that, in addition to cash prizes for 32 winners, we will launch a digital gallery to feature their work. This gallery will allow these talented
individuals to earn income from the sale of their pieces, creating a sustainable platform
to showcase and export Nigeria’s heritage globally.
“Through Uncover Naija, we are not only promoting and preserving Nigeria’s cultural
treasures but aso empowering our creatives with the recognition and opportunities they deserve. This project speaks to our commitment at Sterling Bank to celebrate and elevate Nigeria’s stories, voices, and visions,” Adelana said.
Also speaking, the Marketing Manager for Tourism Business, Obianuju Akinlolu, while detailing the demographics of the competition’s participants, disclosed that while the original 526 entrants were drawn from the 36 states of the Federation, the shortlisted 117 were spread across only 27 states.
According to her, voting is expected to take place on Torrista’s portal and will last for one week after which the final set of winners emerge on November 30, this year.
Fielding questions by journalists at the event, on the issue of professionals in the competition, the Sterling Bank MD, Mr Suleiman explained the focus of Uncover Naija ‘is essentially to unearth those exceptional and unique aspects of the country’s tourism and heritage assets, in addition to rewarding the creatives in the genre.’
On the continuity of the competition, Suleiman assured that Sterling Bank is dedicated to the cause, adding further that the success of this inaugural edition will go a long way in platforming and defining subsequent editions.
Commenting, Mr Olabanjo Alimi, the Divisional Head, Renewable Energy, expressed the assurance that the competition will unearth the hidden gems of Nigeria Tourism, including the creatives in the drive to reposition the industry for meaningful contribution to the economy.
According to him, the Uncover Naija competition is also intended to reward participants meaningfully via the digital gallery platform, where rights to their works are fully covered and protected.
Sterling Bank’s Torrista promotes Nigerian cultural and travel experiences by providing curated local tours, unique travel experiences, and opportunities to explore Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, while offering financial services that make travel more accessible for all.
The media briefing also had in attendance the Mrs Alice Akinsola, the Zonal Coordinator, South West, for the NTDA who represented the Director General of the agency, Chief Folarin Coker. Also, in attendance was ace photographer, Mr Don Barber, and Mubarak Bakare, an industry influencer.
Other top management staff of Sterling Bank who featured at the briefing included; Mr Olabanjo Alimi – Divisional Head Renewable Energy and the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mr Maurice Igugu.
