By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor

The 3rd edition of Made in Nigeria Art Masterclass Abuja, titled “Greater Nigeria” opened on May 25, 2024 at Nike Art Gallery & Workshop, Airport Road, Abuja.   

The exhibition is a product of the 3rd Art Masterclass of 22 selected participants – 15 painting and 7 photography – fully funded by GIZ, ZME, with the support of Nike Gallery Abuja.

GIZ programme Migration for Development, PME, is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ, and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, GIZ.

Temitope Oladeji, Assistant Project Coordinator/Curator, who is also founder of The Art Exential, told Vanguard Newspaper that the entire experience has been nothing short of fulfilling and inspiring for him: “I have had the rare privilege of supervising, monitoring and coordinating daily activities for two weeks. The Art Masterclass serves as a hub for art exploration and human connections for these young, vibrant and emerging artists.”

Oladeji also said the distinctive path serves as an inspiring testament to the myriad of ways through which people can contribute to shinning some light and shaping the Nigerian art ecosystem. “The array of paintings and photographs on display calls for artistic dialogue beyond aesthetics; it is an investment in culture and creativity. I urge you to immerse yourself in the realm of this unique, yet rare experience,” he said. 

According to a statement from ZME, the motivation to collaborate with the Nike Art Gallery in Abuja was their affinity with skills development and the improvement of income generating opportunities for youth as well as their appreciation for arts and culture in Nigeria. “Our collaboration with the Nike Art Gallery for the 2024 edition of the Abuja Art Masterclass is particularly instructive, given the leading role the gallery plays in the promotion of Nigerian arts and culture. The quality of work that has emerged from the masterclass also would attest to the inspiration these young painters and photographers drew from the renowned gallery and its proven collection of artworks.

“We are very pleased with the successful completion of the fifth round of the arts masterclass “Made in Nigeria” aimed at supporting emerging art talent, and the third edition in Abuja.”

The first edition of this project took place in Lagos in 2021, followed by Abuja and Benin in 2022, and Abuja in 2023. The initiative aims to contribute to the growing contemporary art sector in Nigeria and support young artists. “Nigerian artists are rocking the world stage and art is a real career,” said ZME. 

Benefits for participants include mentorship by seasoned Nigerian artists, a fully funded masterclass, training and participation in exhibitions. The theme of the artworks is related to issues of work and life in Nigeria. Some touch on issues of migration and return. In this sense, the project contributes to the creation of a new visual language on these complex topics.

The Art Masterclass team include Sandra Vetmuijten Alonge, team leader, PME Nigeria; Tolu Olaiya, Nigerian-German Center for Migration and Development, Abuja, and Dr Bolaji Ogunwo, project coordinator.