By Peace Udugba
Artist to Create Landmark Public Sculpture Exploring Innovation, Possibility and Nigeria’s Future
LAGOS, NIGERIA — Ventures Platform and the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA), Pan-Atlantic University, have announced artist Haneefah Adam as the winner of the inaugural Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award, a pioneering public art initiative aimed at promoting artistic innovation and future-focused cultural expression in Nigeria.
The announcement was made during Ventures Platform’s 10th Anniversary Dinner in Lagos, where Adam was formally recognised following a competitive nationwide selection process that attracted entries from individual artists and art collectives across the country.
As the recipient of the award, Adam will create a 12-foot public sculpture titled Bloom in Unexpected Places, which will be permanently installed within the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and Pan-Atlantic University environment.
Her proposal emerged successful after a rigorous jury process involving leading artists, curators, scholars and cultural professionals. The work stood out for its originality, conceptual depth, artistic ambition and thoughtful interpretation of the award’s theme, “Reimagine the future and build into form.”
The sculpture explores themes of growth, resilience, innovation and possibility, encouraging viewers to reflect on how creativity and human ingenuity can thrive even in unexpected circumstances. Through its scale and public presence, the installation is expected to stimulate conversations about the future while enriching the university’s cultural landscape and the wider community.
The commission marks a major milestone in Adam’s artistic career. Although she has gained recognition for her innovative and socially engaged works, the project represents her first institutional award, first major public art commission and the largest public artwork she has undertaken.
Speaking on behalf of YSMA, Museum Director Jess Castellote described the award as a significant investment in artists and public culture.
According to him, museums have a responsibility not only to preserve cultural heritage but also to support the creation of new cultural futures. He noted that Adam’s proposal impressed the jury with its clarity, imagination and relevance to contemporary discussions around innovation and possibility.
“The Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award demonstrates what is possible when cultural institutions and private-sector partners work together to invest in creativity and public engagement,” he said.
Founder and General Partner of Ventures Platform, Kola Aina, said the award aligns with the organisation’s broader vision of supporting the ideas, systems and individuals shaping Africa’s future.
He explained that as Ventures Platform celebrates a decade of backing visionary founders across Africa, it sought to create an initiative that reflects the belief that innovation extends beyond technology and business to culture, creativity and storytelling.
“This Award represents an investment in imagination itself. Haneefah’s proposal captures that spirit beautifully, and we are excited to see it come to life as a public artwork that inspires curiosity, reflection and optimism,” Aina said.
The award forms part of a broader three-year collaboration between Ventures Platform and YSMA, which also includes entrepreneurship-focused masterclasses, guest lectures and student engagement initiatives within the Pan-Atlantic University ecosystem.
Supporting the long-term legacy of the programme is Atsur Technologies Ltd, which serves as the exclusive Provenance Infrastructure and Physical-Digital Documentation Partner for the award. Through the partnership, every commissioned artwork will be professionally digitised, authenticated and documented using the company’s provenance and collection management technology to preserve the artist’s creative process and ensure the work’s place within Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
Reacting to her selection, Adam expressed gratitude for the opportunity, describing it as both humbling and encouraging.
“I am deeply honoured to be the inaugural recipient of the Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award. Bloom in Unexpected Places is rooted in the belief that creativity, hope and transformation can emerge even in the most unlikely circumstances. I look forward to working with YSMA and Ventures Platform to bring this vision into the public realm,” she said.
Beyond commissioning a single artwork, the Ventures Platform–YSMA Futures Art Award seeks to establish a new model of collaboration between the cultural and innovation sectors. By positioning artists as active contributors to conversations around technology, entrepreneurship and social transformation, the initiative broadens the ways the future can be imagined and made visible.
As work begins on Bloom in Unexpected Places, the project underscores the commitment of both Ventures Platform and YSMA to nurturing creative talent, supporting public art and promoting interdisciplinary approaches to shaping the future.
