By Japhet Alakam

A LOT has been said about the = way Nigeria as a country values the works of creativity. While few individuals have respect for artists and their works, many, and especially  the leaders do not have regard for works of the creative imagination and their creators.

This non recognition of the import of creativity by Nigerians and managers of the State is equally and sadly manifested in  the way the country’s museums and national galleries are neglected.

A country like Nigeria that has produced great artists like the late Aina Onabolu, Ben Enwonwu, Uche Okeke, Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya, Demas Nwoko, Yinka Shonibare etc whose works adorn  many first class museums, public and private galleries around the globe cannot boost of a befitting national gallery and the authorities concerned are not doing anything about it.

They do not appreciate the works of this great artists neither do they have plans to preserve their works neither for them nor for prosperity.

Even, as the proposed National Gallery of Art’s bill to the National Assembly, which canvases for regulation of art in public spaces is being awaited, the recent  destruction of art works at the Murtala Muhammed International airport by the authorities as a result of the ongoing  renovation works calls for a concerted action by the those concerned to do something and fast too.

Art enthusiasts have cried out at what they saw at the airport where the works of some of the masters like Prof. Yusuf Grillo, Late Prof. Agbo Folarin, Jimoh Bramoh and Isiaka Osunde are destroyed, bringing credence to the fact that Nigerians do not value what they have.

As a result of the renovation, Flight, a 5 piece frieze ( on each side of the arrival lounges) produced by Yusuf Grillo is reduced to one while a glass mosaic mural titled Spirit of man in flight by late Prof Agbo Folarin erected at the entrance is defaced.

Architectural design

Other works by other artists  are also touched and one annoying aspect of  this development  is that the artists  are not consulted neither the Society of Nigerian Arts contacted too before this apparently sacrilegious act.

Many reasons have been adduced for the action, topmost being the fact that the new architectural design of the expansion is different from the way it was when the  works were still part of the airport’s embellishment.

But observers are saying that no matter the new arrangement, such works should have been built into the new design .  And in reaction to the ugly development, Our reporter sought the views of some art patrons and they all expressed their displeasure  with the action.

According to them, it is only in Nigeria where they do not have value for art that such a thing can happen.  They argued that no matter the changes to the environment, the identity of the works should have been sustained.

Chief Frank Okonta, Association of Gallery Owners of Nigeria, (AGAN) chairman described the action as terrible.  “That will be terrible because the art works were bought by the federal government. The airport belongs to the federal government. I have not heard about it but if it is true, it is terrible. The authorities of the airport are supposed to gather them properly and keep and after renovation they bring them back.”

For embittered art collector/promoter, Omooba Adedoyin Yemisi Shyllon , “it is not surprising to me , in a country that does not look at the past neither is it planning  for the future. I am not surprised  that our cultural heritage is been destroyed, the creativity of our great artists are been ignored. In other countries of the world, that is one area that could be preserved for the good of our children and great grand children.” Continuing he stated that “it is not the best way to preserve the creativity of our people and also our way of life. It is very very disgusting and disappointing that you got to renovate an airport and you now destroy the creativity of great men like Yusuf Grillo, a man who has toiled for this country and who has created wonderful piece of works of art only for some miscreants to bring it down.

People like Jimoh Braimoh and late Isiaka Osunde, who is now late, if you destroy his works, that means that you have destroyed everything about his life. It is very painful. For some of us who are stakeholders in creativity in this country, we are pained when we see things like that been done.” He said.

Kolade Osinowo, artist and former President of SNA said that “it shows our attitude towards visual art. It just shows that people don’t care. In other countries, those works even if they were going to be removed, they would have consulted and ask, what do we do with these works, do we build around it, how do we preserve it. But it is part of our life, we just don’t care, we have no sense of history, a valuable work by Yusuf Grillo, Agbo Folarin. I traveled , came back and those were the news I was welcomed with. It is appalling.

It just tells you that usually here we don’t have consultation, they don’t believe that the artist deserves to be consulted.”