…hold exhibition for teachers
Art experts have urged the society and institutions to take urgent action to protect the ecosystem from critical threats including pollution, deforestation, and climate change.
The experts, who made the call at the opening session of a two-day art teachers’ exhibition held in Lagos under the theme, ‘Exploring the beauty of wildlife,’ also stressed the need for individuals to preserve nature, protect what remains, and inspire others to do the same.
Speaking at the event which was organised by the Culture Art Academy in partnerships with Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the National Council for Art and Culture, the Director General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Joseph Onoja said that the exhibition, which featured teachers in both Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, celebrates creative expression and reinforces shared commitment to environmental education and conservation through arts.
According to Onoja, art with its emotional resonance and universal language has the power to translate the urgency of wildlife conservation in to stories that children, communities, and policy makers can all engage with.
While commending the participating teachers for stepping beyond the classroom to become ambassadors of wildlife protection, he said: “This exhibition is more than a display of artistic mastery, it is a call to action, a dialogue between nature and society, and a bridge linking culture with conservation.”
Speaking earlier, the Convener of the exhibition, Augustine Ekhaiyeme explained that this year’s theme brings attention to the breathtaking world around which he said include, vibrant colours, majestic landscapes, intricate patterns, and awe-inspiring creatures.
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Describing the exhibition as a wake-up call to individuals, institutions, and society as a whole, Ekhaiyeme who is also the founder of Culture Art Academy said: “We must take collective action to protect our ecosystems from threats like pollution, deforestation, and climate change.”
On the reason for organising the exhibition for teachers, he said: “Teachers, particularly art teachers are not well valued, a lot of them have lost confident in their career as artists, this exhibition is to awaken them to see value in what they produce.”
On the other hand, he appealed to parents to encourage their children to study art in school, adding: “l have seen situation where a lot of parents threatened their children to read science courses or to be in a commercial class; art does not stop you to do whatever you want to do, the government, the society, institutions need to encourage art, they need to make materials for studying arts affordable for parents, that will go a long way.
“Then, the mindset that art is for low class, should be erased from the mind of people, every career is important.”
On his part, Director General, Centre for Research, Information and Media Development (CRIMMD), Raphael James, commended the organisers of the exhibition, adding that it would create more awareness about safeguarding the nature and wildlife through the eyes of visual arts.
“The beauty of wildlife entails colours, textures and behaviours that capture our imagination and inspire our souls. The natural world is a treasure filled with fascinating creatures awaiting to be explored. As we marvel at the beauty of wildlife, we are reminded of our responsibility to protect and preserve these incredible creatures and their habitats,” he said.
