1st November, 2016
For their outstanding performances in the art industry, authorities of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos on Tuesday, honoured 12 alumni of its School of Art, Design and Printing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the award would be a big boost to attract youths to embracing art industry, which is showing positive contribution to the nation’s GDP.
Despite a contraction in Nigeria’s second quarter GDP, activity in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector contributed 0.26 per cent, a rise from the 0.24 percent in the second quarter of 2015.
NAN also reports that the alumni are Olumide Oresegun, Abass Kelani, Folami Rasaq, Ejiro Amos-Tafiri, Ngozi Schommers and Taiye Idahor.
Others include Richardson Ovbiebor, John Adeyemo, Sonde Ibukun, Stanley Ohikhvare, Ayodeji Balogun and Soji Kuforiji.
The awardees displayed several genre of articulation at the maiden edition of the Home Coming Exhibition holding from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30 at the Yaba Art School.
Rector of the college, Dr Margaret Ladipo, said the old students were honoured for upholding the teachings and legacies of the college all over the world.
Ladipo described the students as worthy ambassadors of the college.
“The ensemble is a canon of the entire range of creative geniuses from this institution.
“The Yaba Art School is an established centre of excellence over the ages.
“These ambassadors, not only benefited from the teaching experience of several legends but from a study of the virtues and shortcomings of contemporary works.
“Their works have won them prizes at home and abroad, and we are very proud of their achievements, individually and collectively.
“By global acclamation, we contrived to preserve continuity by hosting these works, so that Nigerian audience can also savour their quality, temperament, illumination and tap from their inspirations.
“Every work on display here demonstrates probably the greatest conceptual power of these ambassadors of Yaba art school,’’ the Rector said.
Ladipo said the current economic recession across the globe called for firm resolutions among youths to embrace new learning, new thinking, and new search for doing things better.
“This period offers planners, educators and all well meaning Nigerians the opportunity to go back to the drawing board, if we are to change the destiny of the country for good.
“My appeal to the Nigerian youths is that if these 12 skilful performers could excel locally and internationally, through dint of hard work and creative genius, we can improve their performances.
“Searching for paid employment now is like shopping for a dinosaur at a shopping mall,’’ she said.
Some of the awardees who spoke to NAN commended the college for creating the award as platform to display their works to the college community.
Mr Oresegun Olumide, a 2006 graduate of the college, told NAN that the training received from the college made him an exceptional artist.
He commended the management for the honour and promised to remain a worthy ambassador of the institution.
Olumide, who majors in hyper realistic painting with oil on canvas, urged upcoming artist to remain focus.
His paintings went viral in March 2016 on Facebook and had received international recognitions.
Miss Amos-Tafiri, also a 2006 graduate, thanked the rector and the management of the college for the award.
Amos-Tafiri, who is a renowned fashion designer and the 2016 face of Vlisco fabric, said the college gave her a platform to excel.