By CHRIS ONUOHA

Stakeholders and professionals in art sector have tasked the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to draw up a viable road map that will boost art industry in Nigeria.

Taking a clue from the developed countries of the world, the stakeholders who spoke on the significant role art and culture has played in repositioning other countries’ economy questioned why government is still myopic in tapping the golden resources this sector possessed. In their views, adequate attention and speedy measures should be taken by any serious government to address the anomaly hindering growth of art and culture practice in Nigeria.

Those who spoke were Bruce Onabrakpheya, Alhaji Adbulaziz Ude, El-Anatsui and others in Lagos.

In the words of Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya, “First thing this new administration should do is to rectify cultural policy so that things inside it can be operational and artists can benefit from it. After that, government should spend money and build a viable National Gallery, I mean big gallery that can display our works. With that in place, tourists can come and see what we are doing.”

He also asked government to try to extend the assistance given to educational institutions to the informal education sectors like establishing workshops, art villages so that people who do not have opportunity to enter into universities or colleges will be able to benefit from it. Beyond that, “art like any other sector requires funding and development. These will make it grow and prepare it, not only for Nigerians alone but for the outsiders to come and enjoy. Then it will become a money spinner for Nigeria and would also help make art relevant in the country.”

Alhaji Abudulaziz Ude, a great art patron and collector in his own comment bemoans indifference on the side of government. He said, “I think the more physical thing noticed is that Nigerian contemporary art pieces are not visibly displayed in government houses. Government should encourage all the State governors and administrators at different levels to patronize local artists and display their works in their offices.  That should be a major step forward and a way of encouraging them by acquiring their works, will help them grow and become relevant to the society.”

Prof. El-Anatsui laments on the lack of adequate infrastructure to aid visual ideas in the country. He said, “I think one of the things we are still lacking in this country is facilities or infrastructure. There are ideas in the country but we need the facilities for such ideas to gain root or visibility. You know art work is not something that is in the mind of the artist, but it’s something that should gain visibility when it is actualized, and in that regard, I mean things like national galleries or such facilities that will give Nigerian artists opportunity like other artists in the world.

Besides, it could even be like
organizing biennial events or maybe, a 5 year event that would focus on art and help to enhance the understanding of art. If you look at the Dakar biennial in Senegal, it is a big example. It’s been running for so many years now in a country so poorer than Nigeria because it has a visionary President. He started it and has been able to sustain it.

Every two years, art enthusiasts and collectors gather in Senegal. Almost all the people who go to Venice come to Senegal to have idea of what is happening on the continent of Africa. It is a platform for young artists who want to strive and excel.”