By Ifeyinwa Ogwo :
Anambra Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji has urged the members of the Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA), Anambra State Chapter to always display their artworks, be creative and have the vision to inspire others.
He said this when the SNA members paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
Commissioner Onyenji told the group to be proud of their career and take up the challenge of creating exceptional artworks that would instigate the development of the economy by extension create employment and as well bring them and their works to limelight.
“Through art, we can develop a lot, rediscover our potential and cultural values; we can also sell them to the world to create tourist flow into the state.
“We have great sons and daughters who are making us proud and making the world go round; I am happy that your delegation comprises more of youths than the older ones, who could use their youthful energy to soar higher.
“We will partner with you and currently, we are liaising with the Ministry of Transport for a space at the Anambra International Cargo Airport as our shop window to welcome our visitors; when that is done, it is you that will provide the artworks that will be used to decorate the place,” he said.
The commissioner, then, informed them that plans were ongoing to build a cultural industrial centre at Nibo Community, Awka South Local Government Area by the Federal Government through the Ministry, for the display of various artworks, crafts and other works of arts.
He commended the efforts of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo toward making Anambra a liveable, lovable and prosperous smart mega city.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Laz Okafor encouraged the group to be steadfast with their works and be well cultured person, “for a cultured person does not tell lies, get into crime, steal or engage in other social vices’’.
Earlier, the Acting Coordinator, SNA, Prof. Clifford Nwanna, noted that the visit was to felicitate with the commissioner and hint him on their readiness to partner and collaborate with the ministry for the growth of the state.
“We are here to inform you of our readiness to contribute our services to the state, for art is consequential in every discipline whether engineering, medical science, music and even law, that’s why it is said that x-ray means drawing with light.
“Arts make things come alive and beautify the environment, that’s why we need government approval to engage in public arts which means displaying artistic work in the open such as on the walls of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Ekwueme Square, among others which invariably will serve as a land guide.
“We need an art village or centre in Awka where we can display our artistic works to measure up with Lagos, Ogun, Oshogbo and even Dakar where their artistic village attracts large tourists patronage,” he said.
Prof. Nwanna appealed to the state government to organize an annual state art exhibition to draw tourists into the state and revive the Anambra State Art Council-an advisory art body- in the state.
In her part, Okoli Chioma, a Curator, observed that the outlook of the major flyovers is unpleasant and pleaded that government should allow paintings and artistic works around them to beautify them.
While Chima Ikegwuonu, a painter and Iloh Izuchukwu a sculptor, asked for government’s presence in any of their art exhibitions and also assist them in getting the right audience for their displays.
In his vote of thanks, the SNA patron, Barr. Harris Eze thanked the commissioner for receiving them, noting that they are ready to partner with the state.
He bemoaned the dilapidated state of the Igboukwu museum, urging the government to put it in order so that it would attract foreign researchers and as well promote the Igbo artefacts to the world.
Presentation of artwork to the commissioner was the high point of the meeting.
