Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured creative artwork practitioners in Lagos State of his authorities’s unrelenting commitments to the development of the sector, describing it as one of the main drivers of tourism development in the State.
The Governor stated this on Tuesday at the 2022 Greater Lagos Art Exhibition, themed “Art in and for Transformations”, held at the Harbour Point Event Centre, Victoria Island.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said that his administration has embraced each alternative to assist and encourage younger and upcoming proficient people to develop and acquire the publicity they will want to succeed.
According to Sanwo-Olu, creative artwork occupies a particular place in the E pillar of his administration’s THEMES agenda, which stands for Entertainment and Tourism.
He stated “Over three years of the implementation of the THEMES development agenda, “we have left no one in doubt about our desire to fully harness the largely untapped potentials entertainment sector especially the creative arts component”.
Speaking additional, the Governor said that the exhibition is fairly instructive as there is want to make the most of completely different phrases and media to successfully talk messages and concepts particularly these that are meant to change the orientation of the public, societal ills and its results on the common properly-being of the society.
He was of the conviction that the theme of the exhibition speaks to the energy of art work as potent instruments of drive and affect social transformation by means of the message they talk.
The First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu stated the resolution to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on the exhibition was borne out of the real want to open up alternatives for visible artists who have confirmed to stand out in their creative work, including that arts had been confirmed to be a strong software which helps folks talk with the outer world and higher perceive their internal selves.
While commending the huge contributions of artists to socio-cultural and socio-political development, she additionally challenged them to use their artworks to converse towards ills in society, significantly the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
“With these particular abilities, you are an incredible contributor to the Tourism and Entertainment pillar of this current administration and this additionally provides you house underneath the Education and Technology pillar of the THEMES Agenda of the administration of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
“As opinion molders and great influencers of thought, I challenge you to be deeply involved and commit yourself to support this administration in stamping out the menace of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence from our society through the use of your artworks as a form of campaign against SGBV,” she stated.
She additionally referred to as on the artists to deploy their skills to battle youngster labour, sexual discrimination, and discrimination primarily based on incapacity standing, as properly as enlighten the folks on psychological well being, amongst others.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf recommended the First Lady for her consistency and dedication which, in accordance to her, ensured that the novel Greater Lagos Arts Exhibition turns into a actuality.
She stated it had been established that artwork, in its varied kinds, is good enterprise that deserves each consideration and funding that is channeled in direction of it, including that the exhibition was half of the intervention of the state authorities to give visibility to artists and their artworks in order to additional deepen the development of the creative business.
In a paper presentation on the transformative energy of visible arts, Prof. Kunle Filani stated it was gratifying that Lagos had been blessed with a string of proactive and patriotic governors together with Sanwo-Olu who continues to make transformational modifications and promote visible arts.
To additional deepen arts, Filani urged the state authorities to construct its personal museum and one other iconic gallery of up to date artwork, as properly as embark on the acquisition of numerous artworks by Nigerian artists to beautify vital places of work to promote tradition and creativity.
He additionally suggested the authorities to reignite the educating of visible arts in secondary faculties to guarantee future residents who are creative and folks who can make use of important considering in their skilled endeavors.
The occasion featured an artwork exhibition by 30 artists, panel dialogue and participation of secondary college college students.