By Japhet Alakam

As part of its efforts to catch them young, the National Gallery of Art, (NGA) organised an exhibition to showcase talents of the children. The exhibition tagged 1st National Children Art Exhibition held at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Abuja, provided another opportunity to showcase the artistic ingenuity of Nigerian children.

Split into categories, namely: Nursery, Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary categories, the children through the body of works displayed, produced mainly with crayon, mixed media, pencil, paper, water, colour, poster, pen, textile and sculpture were able to send a message of what the country had lost through the neglect of children art.

Some of the works had titles such as Masquerade, A Panacea For Corruption, Our Nation Bound In Freedom, My Two Faithful Wives, Fulani Girl, Education Is My Right, Peace And Unity Dancers, Village Scene, 7-Point Agenda, The Destitute Child, and Court Order, among others.

The exhibition which attracted dignitaries, art scholars, art patrons, artists and children from various schools afforded the stakeholders in the art industry another opportunity to reflect on the state of art in the nation.

Speaking at the event, the Senate Committee Chairman on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Ahmed Hassan Barata  after going through the quality of stunning works produced by the children, urged the National Gallery of Art (NGA) to create an enabling environment for artists to thrive.

He promised that the Senate, would work closely with the NGA to ensure quick passage of laws that would facilitate the growth of modern art and its funding. “We have been common passengers in the boat of art development and now that the boat is sailing safely and steadily, we cannot but extend our cooperation as partners in progress to the National Gallery of Art,” he said.

Barata noted that technological development is dependent upon full engagement of the tenets of the arts, adding that art is capable of becoming an alternative source of revenue for the country.

In the lecture segment of the exhibition, the guest speaker, renowned artist and architect, Prince Demas Nwoko pointed out that Nigeria cannot achieve its Vision:2020 with the declining state of art education. Speaking on topic, Our future lies in children art, Nwoko whose works, particularly in architecture are highly revered said children art has not been given due attention in the nation’s educational system, saying now is the time to redress the situation.

He warned that should the poor state of art education continues, the nation might not be able to reach the promised land of technological development in 2020. He urged government to put something concrete and positive on ground so that in 10 years time, ‘we will realize our first firm step to true technological growth.

On how Nigeria can achieve technological development through art, he said: “Today I fear that technology is virtually disgracing us because we did not learn the art of doing it at an early age, which has left Nigeria a talking rather than a doing nation…We need to accomplish our physical build-up ourselves. That is why attempts to buy technology have not led to our imbibing technology. If you get addicted to buying, you will not develop the self-confidence to create or think.”

Earlier on, Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Minister, Chief Edem Duke; Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir; and host, the DG of NGA, Abdullahi Muku spoke on the importance of creativity in children’s future. Chief Edem Duke said the exhibition was a pointer to the possibility of self reliance and near indispensability of Art and Creativity towards the sustainability of Nigeria’s culture and tourism industry.

He commended the NGA for repositioning the Visual Art sub sector adding that the displayed artworks were properly documented in adherence to the policy of NGA on exhibitions.

On his part, NGA helsman, Muku who described today’s child art as the assurance of the virility of tomorrow’s creative industry renowned for its independence and generation of employment said the exhibition is a pointer to the possibility of self-reliance and near indispensability of art and creativity in the overall sustainability of the nation’s culture and tourism industry.