As Nigeria marks her independence anniversary today, some interesting things are happening at Omenka GALLERY , Victoria Island, where last week, a photography exhibition titled; A Perspective on Contemporary Nigerian Photography was kicked off to mark the interesting journey of this largely ignored art form.

The commissioner for Arts, culture and tourism has appealed to traditional rulers to join hands with the government in promoting the rich cultural values of Edo people.

Hopefully, the 2009 Abuja Carnival will witness a re-birth going by the number of reform changes, which the newly inaugurated committee led by notable theatre artist, dance scholar and choreographer, Ojo Rasaki Bakare revealed to art and tourism journalists over the week end in Lagos.

As a means of correcting monumental distortions and negative image being painted by the western press about African women, Dr. A. Olusegun Fayemi, a Nigerian born and American based documentary photographer, has decided to devote his energies to social documentary photography of the progressive and positive feminine activities in continental Africa and Africa in the diaspora.

Ghanian born and Nigerian based artist,El Anatsui is among the ten receivers of the 2009 Prince Claus 25,000 euro award. El Anatusi, an internationally renowned artist is a sculptor of outstanding energy and has taught and nurtured many other distinguished Nigerian artists including American based Nnenna Okorie and Lagos based artist, Ndidi Dike among others.

Some years ego, former arts editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Obi Nwakanma wrote a very defining literary essay published in the Sunday arts pages , which he titled; Lagos and the Poets. In that seminal article, Nwakanma, who in his own right, is an admirable poet assessed how the metropolitan city of Lagos in all its arresting contradictions helps to shape and influence the life and creativity of the city’s based poets.

Amanda Ogunnro,London trained trichologist is the Senior Pastor of Rivers of Living Water Ministries situated along Ikorodu Road, Maryland , Lagos State. The medical professional turned pastor, apart from anchoring, Hour of Decision, one of the most sought after radio-evangelism programs at Eko FM 89.75 recently presented four outstanding religious literatures to the public.

As part of the sensitization strategies for the forthcoming Edo State Festival of Arts, Culture and Tourism tagged, “EDOFEST 2009” coming up some time in November this year, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism has commenced his sensitization visit to the 18 Local Government councils of Edo State, beginning with Edo South, Edo Central and North Senatorial Districts, to formally intimate them with plans for EDOFEST 2009 and to solicit for their co-operation and support.

We thought for a long time that a notable characteristic of British officials was a certain diplomatic approach but on hearing MacGregor and his associates, we start thinking that this assessment perhaps requires a drastic revision, if not, a total reverse.

The Nigerian artist has established his stand very firmly in the nation and happy to know that the industry is acknowledged by the government of the day but why is the government not showing enough interest in the affairs of the industry?