By Victor Richards, July 2021, News/Comments
LAGOS– Yaba Art Museum of the Yaba College of Technology, (YABATECH), has opened an exhibition tagged “Living Blue, an Archive Retrospective”, to assist researchers who are conducting projects of interest. Meanwhile, Dr. (Mrs) Odun Orimolade, Curator of the Museum, had said that the exhibition centred around Mrs Nike Okundaye, Nigeria’s Batik and Adire Designer, as she turned 70. She also reiterated that the exhibition was also to recognise Okundaye’s indelible contributions to the College and Art development in Nigeria and so, it became necessary to eulogized a great patriot of Art and the importance: “What we have here in this exhibition is not just art work, it’s a process, memorabilia, history and documents that we could get out of artistic space, running for two months. It is on this, Mama Okundaye had to come in this space of the museum, because she has been very and significantly supportive. At 70, so it is a mark of recognition for her good works. She has championed youth development and gender equality programmes. She even runs a safe home system where she help others stand on their feet.”
L-R, Mama Okundayo with husband, and Rector, Omokungbe receiving award from the College
Orimolade further stated of the exhibition coming up in August, 2021. “It is an open advantage for researchers of in the coming exercise in August. The exhibition will involve a lot. Researches especially will benefit from it. We have quite a collection – books, digitals, images, art objects and others”. On his part, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe, Rector of College, noted that the College management commends Okundaye’s contributions to the College and the world of arts. Omokungbe stressed however, that it was with the support of the Ford Foundation that the exhibition became a reality. “The foundation gave the college a whopping sum of 200,000 dollars for the execution of the project”. The Rector also noted that the beautiful works displayed at the exhibition were made possible through the support of foundation and that the college appreciated their commitment to the success of the venture.
Applauding Mrs. Okundaye, the Rector said “Mama, students and the entire management are very happy with all that you have done’
Responding, Mrs. Okundaye who was accompanied by her husband expressed happiness for being recognised and celebrated by the College. She expressed gratitude to the organisers and the College Community for remembering her.“ This day will remain green in my heart, this is unbelievable because this is the first time ever in my life that I will be receiving this kind of recognition by my own country. I feel so great. I lack words to express my joy and heartfelt gratitude to all.” She stressed.
In the same vein, the Programme Officer of Ford Foundation, Mrs Funke Baruwa said, the foundation is committed to art development that can bring about cultural transformation and economic growth. The exhibition took place at the School of Art, Design, and Printing of the College.
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