By Felix Omoh-Asun
The Director General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Ebeten William Ivara, was on Tuesday appointed as Special Ambassador in the war against illicit drugs.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) conferred on him the appointment and the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, Prof. Lillian Salami.
In the ceremony – the exhibition of the works of renowned sculptors, Chief Ellis Erimona and Princess Elizabeth Olowu (nee Akenzua) – which took place inside the hall of Department of Fine and Applied Art at the Ekenwan campus of UNIBEN, the Edo State Commandant of the NDLEA, Buba Obadiah Wakawa, said Iwara was conferred with the appointment for using the art against drug abuse.
The exhibition put together by the NGA in conjunction with the Fine and Applied Art of the University provided a window into the times and minds of the veteran artistes. The event was themed:”For the Edification of the Students and the University Community ”
Wakawa said since coming on board as DG of the gallery, Ivara has relentlessly used the art as a tool to fight against illict drugs.
This is as the Edo State NDLEA boss commended the UNIBEN VC for being a role model in the society. He added that since she became the VC of the institution, drug abuse has reduced to the minimum.
Wakawa, who chaired the occasion, in his remarks, said the artustes, Chief Erimona and Princess Olowu, stand in a class of their own, “with Princess Olowu being a trial blazer and trend setter in the field of iron smithery, especially among women in the Benin Kingdom.”
According to him, Erimona has contributed immensely in the area of portraiture in sculpture, adding the works of the two power houses in one exhibition will no doubt benefit students and inspire creativity.
He commended the NGA for fulfilling its role as a custodian of modern Nigerian visual arts and for not relenting in continually bringing the art of the Benin Kingdom to public glare.
The DG, NGA, in his welcome address, said the two artistes were chosen for the exhibition because of their close link with the University of Benin – having been students and lecturers of the department.
Discribing them as renowned sculptors, Ivara said their works were also selected for exhibition by virtue of their knowledge of the visual art.
According to him, their works are not only embedded in Benin culture but also endeared to other cultures. He described them as ambassadors of Benin Kingdom and that of the university where they were once students and lecturers.
The DG later donated 48 sets of books to the department, which he said will serve as research and teaching materials for the lecturers and students.
Iwara explained that some of the books were written to showcase and document the works of the artistes and to honour them.
Erimona, in appreciating the exhibition of his works, hoped the exhibition would inspired the students of fine art and act as database to learning.
He said arts occupies important place in the world.
Indeed, the exhibition was a tale of two veterans artistes.
Despite their age, Chief Erimona (73) and Princess Olowu, who is in her 80s, provided a visual excursion into their artistic activism of their works.
Sculptors of repute, they engaged the audience, made of academia, students, sculptors and the general public, with a tale of modern sculptors imbued with endless energy, romance, love and consummation.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
