Group Partner Govt to Promote Art among Secondary Schools in Imo
A group known as Sylvester Chukwuegu Arts Foundation( SC AF) is partnering with the I mo State government to promote arts in the state in order not to allow the skill togo into extinction, even as government is urged to contribute to the growth of art in the society.
Speaking during the inaugural launch of SC A Fat the Government College, Owerri, I mo State, the Chairman of SC AF, Mr. If eanyi Sylvester Chukwuegudecri ed the attitude of government and lack of interest on the part of the society to embrace the work of creativity which art presents as a major fulcrum to recall historical facts and situ ate it to the present circumstance.
According to him, I want the government to embrace this foundation which is anon-profit organisation with the sole aim to encourage art that could bring honour to the society. It might bring honour to the country as artists can capture the whole emotions of the country in a painting, in music and in other forms so that the problem of the country can be addressed from there.
“We want support also from corporate bodies so that we can feature arts exhibition for professionals instead of secondary school students which we are doing this year. This is our dream to continue to promote art exhibition inline with what our father told us not to allow arts to die in this country ,” he said. X-raying his late father’ s work which according to him, is scattered all over the world, such as Santa Barbara, California, USA. UK, Ethiopia and Nigeria, Chukwuegu said that his late father was not only an artist but a prolific archer, who took the first position in a competition in Ab ia at a time.
The late Sylvester Chukwuegu,a native of N guru nw eke in Ab oh Mb ai se of I mo state was the Chairman of Arts and Culture in Ab a Local Government, worked at Ab a Textile Mills, Government Technical College A ba, etc and among his works were the Bust of the Unknownwomanin
A ba, water Fountain at C KC Cathedral A ba, Lord Lug a rd Statue at National Museum A ba, water fountain at NT A, A ba.
Among his works that won laurel sat both national and international events included; the carved goddess ofNnewi“E DO ”, this won the first position in East Central State and at the national festival of arts in Lagos in 1971, the golden gong which was presented to Emperor H aile Selassie of Ethiopia by General Ya ku bu Go won on his visit to Nigeria then, the“Am ad io ha” masterpiece which won a prize at the FESTAC77inLagos.
In his lecture titled“Creative Art and the young mind so four society” by Dr. Aka chi O doe me ne of the Department of History and International Studies, Federal University, Otuoke, Bay elsa State, he stated that art has been proven as an express ive cultural activities like music, dance and drama that promotes activity in the brain. According to him, arts help young minds understand better other subjects much more clearly from math sand science, to language, the arts and geography. It also nurtures inventiveness as it eng ages young minds ina process that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, and self-motivation.
The highlight of the launching was an art exhibition and competition where four major secondary schools in the state; Mb a is eS eco nd a ry School, Government Secondary School, Owerri, Akwu a ku ma Girls Secondary School, and Orji Comprehensive Secondary School, participated.