By Priscilla Osaje
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Afrocultour Ltd., Mr Chuks Akamadu, says President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom has positive impact on Nigeria’s arts and culture.
He described Tinubu as the first President to promote Nigeria’s arts and culture at the international scene.
Akamadu said this in an interview with newsmen on the president’s visit to the United Kingdom, and its impact on Nigeria’s arts and culture, in Abuja on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Afrocultour Ltd. is a Nigerian-based organisation focused on promoting arts, culture, and tourism.
The Afrocultour CEO lauded the President and First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for showcasing made-in-Nigeria materials at the state banquet held at St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle.
He added that they also wore made-in-Nigeria dresses at the special exhibition of Nigerian items from the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.
“You can see that during his official outings in the United Kingdom, Mr. President and First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, wore mostly made-in-Nigeria materials.
“Even when they we’re departing Abuja, for the two-day state to United Kingdom on the invitation of King Charles III, the Nigerian First Family wore made-in-Nigeria clothes.
“At the state banquet organised on behalf the Nigerian leader held at St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle and at the special exhibition of Nigerian items from the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, President Tinubu and First Lady also wore beautifully made-in-Nigeria dresses.”
He said that the President and his wife marketed Nigeria well on this historic international stage.
“King Charles while welcoming President Tinubu and the Nigerian delegation at a state banquet, greeted him in Yoruba Language- “E káàboo, sé dáadáa ni,” meaning “Welcome, how are you doing?”
“Social media platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram and others, are awash with good narratives and beautiful photos of the President’s two-day visit to United Kingdom. This is a powerful message coming from Mr President.”
Akamadu described “Nigerian Modernism” as a momentous exhibition that aspires to reframe Nigeria’s art history not merely as a peripheral story to Western modernism, but as a parallel and equally innovative movement that can stand alone on the merit.
“Interestingly, the period 1940s–1990s was the period when Nigeria transitioned from colonial rule to independence, and artists were actively involved in issues that bother on heritage, identity and global relevance.
“So, President Tinubu’s presence at such a show in the UK is beyond symbolism. It does have a functional value, because it positions Nigerian art as a cultural export and asserts Nigeria’s prominent place in global art history.
“Exhibitions like this are not just about aesthetics. Rather, they are essentially about cultural diplomacy, national image, and rewriting narratives of modernism to rightly include African input.
“In my view, therefore, the UK exhibition which is both a celebration and loud artistic statement is coming at a most auspicious time.
“However, more than anything else, it celebrates the ingenuity of Nigerian artists who forged a new identity through art, and corrects the historical omission of African modernism from mainstream narratives.
“For Nigeria, it is a time of cultural affirmation. On the other hand, it is, for the UK, an opportunity to confront colonial legacies by looking herself in the mirror, while engaging with the richness of Nigerian creativity. Over all, I think it’s a commendable initiative.”
Speaking on the impact of the international exhibitions on Nigeria’s arts, culture, tourism and creative ecosystem, Akamadu said it would help in demolishing erroneously held notions that tend to present Nigeria as being less endowed artistically.
According to him, the impact will also include greater inspiration for players in the ecosystem to do a lot more.
“This is because beyond being an acknowledgement of significant contribution to world modernism, it will assert Nigeria as a dominant force in the global arts, culture, tourism and creativity habitat.
“The exhibition also has a potential to stimulate interest amongst British culture enthusiasts who might like to visit Nigeria to further explore our vastly rich cultural and tourism assets.
“So, the exhibition can only leave the ecosystem better than the former met the latter,” Afrocultour CEO said.
According to him, both countries share the english language as a common medium for artistic expression.
“This can clearly be seen in the various literary offerings of Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka – both globally renowned authors of Nigerian extraction and the legendary British-born William Shakespeare. Of course, the list is endless.
“Similarly, both countries cherish their museum and galleries, which they consider to be priceless cultural hubs.
“In the realm of music, Nigeria and United Kingdom are lovers of same art-form. Whilst Nigeria promotes afrobeat and highlife, UK enjoys rock, classical music and pop.
“Culturally speaking also, UK celebrates events like Notting Hill Carnival and Glastonbury, whilst Nigeria hosts traditional festivals such as New Yam, Osun-Osogbo and modern music festivals, all of which emphasise community, art, and cultural pride.
“So, both countries are deeply rooted in culture,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
