The National Gallery of Art Nigeria held the 10th Annual Distinguished lecture on Wednesday 7th December 2011 at the International Conference Centre Abuja with the Topic “Scanning For Antidote: The Precancerous State of Visual Arts in Nigeria Today”. The lecture was delivered by Prof. Ola Oloidi, the erudite Professor of Art History from the University of Nigeria Nssukka, Enugu State.
The event which was an intellectual exercise had in attendance very important personalities from all walks of life. The National Assembly of the Federal Republic was well represented by the Distinguished Senator Ahmed Hassan Barata, Chairman Senate Committee on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and Honourable Ben Nwankwo, Chairman, House Committee on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation who were the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the occasion respectively. The Honourable Minister who was unavoidably absent was ably represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Ben Ibe; and accompanied by Directors of the ministry. Chief Executives of Parastatals of the Ministry were also present and accompanied by a cross section of staff of Parastatals. Members of the Diplomatic Corps and other notable players in the arts community such as Mr. Uwa Usen, President Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), immediate past President of the Association Mr. Kolade Oshinowo and Vice President (North) Prof. Tonie Okpe were also present.
The high point of the occasion was the charismatic and thought provoking presentation by Prof. Oliodi, the Guest Lecturer, after a lengthy reading of his citation by Dr. Freeborn Odiboh from the University of Benin, for obvious reasons. Prof. Oloidi to the amazement of his audience made his concluding remarks at the beginning of his lecture; which was: that the Woes of Visual Arts in Nigeria Today should neither be blamed on the Government nor its Parastatals but on the practitioners themselves. Text of his lecture and his citation will be available on this site shortly. The lecture was moderated by Dr. Adele Garkida from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State.
Another remarkable aspect of this year’s edition, apart from the dignitaries that graced the event was the publication of the Lecture and made available at the commencement of presentation. In the past the publication was made a period after the Lecture. Now the publication is already available to enhance scholarly and research undertakings, as well as adding to the existing body of knowledge.
It was not all about talk and tension that characterize lecture situations, but there were moment of excitements as the cultural groups from the Government Secondary School Wuse, Abuja, and the Abuja arts Council cultural troupe at different times performed the unity dance and dance drama to drive home the need for unity in diversity. The Master of Ceremony was on top of his act as he interspersed the agenda of the day with some rib cracking jokes.
Magnus Ojeonu
AD(Programme Analyst)
NGA
W H A T T H E C A M E R A R E C O R D E D 
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