By Esther Onyegbula

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, and Dr. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo have announced plans to host a fundraising art exhibition aimed at raising funds for the establishment of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Centre for Arts and Vocations (BATCAV), a proposed national institution projected to train over 100,000 Nigerians in arts, crafts and vocational skills.

The announcement was made on Tuesday in Lagos at a high-level press conference jointly addressed by Obasa, the official host of the event, and Tinubu-Ojo, the grand host.

Scheduled to hold on Thursday, February 5, 2026, the exhibition, curated by Artifact Galleries, is designed to mobilise private sector and philanthropic support for BATCAV, which the promoters describe as a platform for skills development, cultural preservation and enterprise creation within Nigeria’s creative economy.
Speaking at the briefing, Obasa described the proposed centre as a strategic intervention to harness Nigeria’s creative talents and link skills acquisition with economic opportunities.

According to him, BATCAV will serve as a bridge between talent development and enterprise, while also preserving cultural heritage and strengthening Nigeria’s influence in Africa’s growing creative sector.
In her remarks, Tinubu-Ojo said the exhibition goes beyond an art showcase, noting that it represents a national commitment to legacy building and cultural preservation.

She called on corporate organisations, institutions and philanthropists to support the initiative, stressing that the centre is envisioned as a long-term investment that will benefit future generations.
Also speaking, the event chairman and foundation patron, Otunba Abbey Onas, said the centre’s framework would combine training with access to finance, adding that graduates would be linked to partner financial institutions to access start-up capital upon completion of their programmes.

He said the approach was intended to ensure a clear pathway from skills acquisition to sustainable livelihoods.

The organisers also acknowledged Otunba Muraina Olatunji Banjoko as a major supporter of the exhibition, noting that his contributions had helped to advance preparations and mobilise strategic partnerships for the event.

The exhibition is expected to feature the unveiling of hyper-realistic portrait paintings of prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, state governors, selected ministers, senators and members of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers and business leaders.

Beyond the exhibition, the organisers outlined key objectives of BATCAV, including the training of over 100,000 Nigerians in arts and vocational skills, the preservation of thousands of artworks by Nigerian and African artists, and the creation of a central repository documenting key moments in Nigeria’s contemporary history through art.

They said the centre is envisioned as a training ground, cultural archive and creative hub that would position Nigeria as a continental leader in arts and culture.

The organisers urged members of the public, corporate partners and cultural institutions to participate in the February 5 event and support the establishment of BATCAV.

The fundraising exhibition will be hosted by Dr. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, with Obasa as official host, and curated by Artifact Galleries.