The importance of using art to engage the younger ones and keep them out of unholy activities came to the fore when children between 13 and 20 exhibited their art works.
The exhibition, which took place at Beeston House, Ayobo, Lagos, saw the children displaying their works and speaking about how happy they were using their leisure time to acquire skills in art after returning from school.
One of the young artists, Nwaokiki Favour, told The Nation that he was encouraged to take to art by the owner of the centre, Mr Pauloye Oyeleye.
“Mr Oyeleye brought me here and I in turn invited my friends who are still here today. There are some of our friends who said that we are wasting our time by coming to do this but we know that we are not. Rather, they are the ones wasting their own time because they are always idle after school,” the 15-year-old said.
Since he joined the centre, Ogunyinka Ademola, an Senior Secondary School 1 pupil, said he has acquired skills in technical drawing.The love for drawing according to him started when “we did a drawing of our workshop here. Coming to acquire skills helps me to make good use of my leisure time and also keeps me away from mixing up with bad companions. My parents are very happy with what I am doing. I want to study Civil Engineering in the university’’.
Twenty-year-old Kareem Quadri said he loves painting and drawing. ”I have been doing this for some time and I do earn some money doing it. I am here to develop the skill and I am happy with what I am getting here,” he said.
On how he joined the young artists’centre, Obasi Augustine, a 15-year-old, said: “I came here through the influence of my friends. I have been learning here since 2017. I can do clothe printing and technical drawing. My parents and I are happy because I have no time for frivolities.”
Beaming smiles, Richard Stanly, a 13 year-old Junior Secondary School 2 pupil said: “I am happy that I can draw building plans, make some hand crafts, and do other things. I wish others out there would also use their leisure time profitably as we are doing.’’
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Oyeleye, an industrial engineer /artist said he used the exhibition to celebrate his 70th birthday for the children, adding: ”I use this platform to teach the children the reality of art and how art can improve their lives. The exhibition is first of its kind in Olorunnisola.’’ The objectives are to stimulate the interest of the people in arts and crafts and to create awareness between local artists and the community. It is also to generate a commercial venture within and outside the community and to train young people to be self-reliant with emphasis on creativity.
“I decided to be grooming the young ones because I learnt that when you are teaching children, you will also learn from them. If you tell them you want to do something for them, if you don’t do it, they will continue to pester you. We want more children to get involved in this.”
One of his colleague at the centre, Mr Odion Ogogo, who studied Ceramics at the Westminster University UK and worked in many ceramic companies in the United Kingdom as a production manager, said: “I love imparting knowledge into the young one. The gain of that is the exhibition we are doing today.
The kids are happy and we are happy too and so also are their parents. I have been using art to take many children out of the street. I do approach many young people indulging in reckless smoking and drinking to come and acquire skills in art. Some of them do come.”
One of the teachers, Rowland Isekeije Samson, who is a a graduate of Fine Arts from Auchi Polytechnic, was glad the children are happy acquiring skills in art. ” I developed interest in painting from childhood. I am happy impacting knowledge to the pupils. There could be challenges selling art works but it doesn’t deter me. The fact that people are appreciating the work of art gives me the hope that there is future in it,” he said.
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