Spires Academy Hosts Maiden Academic Creative Competition – ‘Little Picassos’

By Gabriel Chy Alonta

It was a colourful blend of creativity, imagination and youthful brilliance as Spires Academy, Nkwelle, hosted the maiden edition of Little Picassos, a children-focused art event designed to celebrate artistic expression and holistic learning.

Held at the Spires Academy Multipurpose Hall on Thursday, March 19, 2026, the event drew pupils, educators, parents, and art enthusiasts from within and beyond the host community, creating an atmosphere rich in inspiration, competition, and collaboration.

Declaring the event open, the Director of Schools, Spires Academy, Dr. Anulika Valentina Etele, described the initiative as a deliberate effort to nurture creativity in children and provide them with a platform to freely express their imagination.

Drawing inspiration from the legendary artist Pablo Picasso, Dr. Etele emphasized the importance of encouraging children to explore their creative instincts without fear, noting that true innovation is born from freedom of expression. She reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to holistic education, stressing that Spires Academy remains focused on raising well-rounded children beyond mere academic excellence.

The event featured participation from notable schools, including RidgeValley Academy, Awka; Bridgewell Academy, Nkwelle; Friend of Friends School, Obosi; Catch Them Young Children Convent School, Nkpor; and the host, Spires Academy.

Participants engaged in art-based competitions evaluated using well-structured criteria, including originality, creativity, innovation, neatness, style, confidence, and skillfulness, with a total of 100 marks obtainable.

At the end of a keenly contested exercise, RidgeValley Academy, Awka, emerged overall winner with an impressive 79.5 percent, demonstrating exceptional strength in both craft and painting. Bridgewell Academy followed closely in second position with 78 percent, while Spires Academy secured third place with 76 percent, a commendable performance that reflected the host school’s strong artistic culture.

Catch Them Young Children Convent School placed fourth with 74.5 percent, while Friend of Friends School, Obosi, came fifth with 58 percent.

The panel of judges, led by Dr. Mary Emodi-Nnoruka of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, alongside Dr. Ifeanyi Azuji, a counselling psychologist, commended the pupils for their ingenuity and confidence, noting that the level of creativity displayed was remarkable for their age.

The event witnessed the presence of key stakeholders in the education sector, including Dr. Obianuju Mokwelu, Director of Bridgewell Academy, Nkwelle, and Dr. Ify Ejelue, Director of RidgeValley Academy, Awka, both of whom led their pupils and staff to the occasion.

Also, Maryann Onyia and Precious Iroji respectively led the pupils of Friend of Friends School and Catch Them Young Children Convent School to the competition that drew admiration from both judges and spectators.

In their separate remarks, representatives of participating schools lauded the management of Spires Academy for conceptualizing and successfully executing the initiative. They expressed optimism that future editions would expand in scope and impact.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates and gifts to participants, a moment that elicited excitement and pride among the young artists and their supporters.