Foluke George is the brain behind the Vision of the Child (VoTC) project. With over 123 paintings in its yearly art competitions, VoTC has been nurturing young talents. The 2016 edition, which ended with an exhibition/award night, kick-started Lagos@50 celebrations. George is passionate about the arts and believes that with private sector investments the creative industry will become a major revenue earner and create jobs. In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, she speaks on her passion, the creative industry’s potential and the talents of Nigerian children.
Before VoTC, how were you involved in the arts?
My love for arts started with my younger brother – Olubunmi Oluwadare, who began his artistic journey at the age of six. I worked with Chief Nike Okundaye in the 1990s and in 2002; and 2009, I led eight Nigerian artists to Florence, Italy, to participate in Caterina de’Medici World Painting competition and awards. In both competitions, Nigerian artists won gold and silver prizes. I also co-ordinated the Caterina de’Medici Africa edition in Nigeria in 2010 under the supervision of Prof Wole Soyinka.
What was it in your upbringing that inspired the woman you have become?
I grew up in the midst of boys. I leant to be strong as a child and I was always learning from the wisdom pot of my father. He told me at nine: never to give up. He reiterated several times in my early days that I was the best, even when I came home with second, third or fourth position. He told me that my birth place, environment and circumstances must never be allowed to kill my dream. He is my Hero!
With what the economy is facing due to the crisis in the oil sector, some art critics say the art sector is remains untapped and holds much economic prospects. What do you think?
This is correct. With the dwindling oil prices, Nigeria can no longer rely on oil revenues. As the largest economy in Africa, it must be seen to take the lead in economic diversification and develop other sectors that have the potential for income earnings for the nation. Art is untapped!
The creative/cultural industry is the third largest industry in the United Kingdom (UK). New figures published by the UK Government revealed that the UK’s creative industry is now worth £76.9 billion per year to the UK economy. This massive contribution is at an all-time high and equates to £8.8m per hour, or £146,000 every single minute, playing a key role in the government’s long-term economic plan. Nigeria’s creative/cultural industry is no different, in terms of the potential that it holds. There is urgent need for research agenda for the understanding of the creative/cultural economy in Nigeria. Government should seek out ways to tap into it.
Critics also say leaders should pay attention to developing the creative potentials of the Nigerian child; they insist that government is not doing enough to harness that sector…
The truth is that government is yet to harness the potential embedded in children’s creativity. How many creative institutions do we have in Nigeria? The old tradition of going to schools, reading, passing and graduating with little or no skill is still prevalent in Nigeria. This is why the rate of unemployment is very high. A potential employer of labour will end up in eight to five routine jobs because he missed his purpose due to lack of incentive to develop his potential. Every child is sent to the world to rule and reign; the government must collaborate with the private sector/organisations like ours to grow creative economy.
Where do you think parents and government are getting it wrong, with regards to galvanising the artistic talent in children?
Nigeria’s great future will largely depend on today’s children. There is need to help develop their God’s given talents so that our country can generate massive wealth through their creativity in the future. Let me begin with parents, most parents have misdirected their children by insisting on courses they’d like them to pursue in the universities without reference to their ability and God’s given talents. Parents must watch their children from early years to understand their passion, and help them to develop early enough. Government must build institutions that will promote and develop creative thinking and inventions – and it’s not too late to start.
How long have you been involved with children and how has the experience been ?
The 2010 edition of Caterina de’Medici International Painting Award gave birth to the Vision of the Child (VoTC) in 2011. The first edition of VoTC took place 2012. This year is the fifth edition. So far, besides this year’s edition, 30 winners have emerged from the previous ones. After 2012 and 2013 editions, we discovered that children are endowed with multiple gifts. So in 2014, submission of essays, short stories or poems on given theme was introduced. We began two creative medium of expression in 2015 with the theme The Road to Sambisa dedicated to the agony of the Chibok Girls.
It’s been an amazing journey working with children. I have learnt so much from them. Children love people, who are open with them and allow them to express themselves. Their innocence allows them to give unbiased opinion about issues. They also collaborate with each other without difficulties. They are easy to correct, lead and they have team spirit!
How has VoTC helped in the talent development of the Nigerian child?
Nigeria is a great nation with highly talented children, who required platform to develop and climb the ladder of success. One of the key elements of the VoTC is to hear the voices of the youth and children, and equip them to lead change. VoTC provides participating children the platform to express their understanding of the world they live in, their vision of what it should be, their dreams and fantasies through painting and the literary arts – poetry, prose, fiction, or essay. So far, VoTC initiative has promoted thousands of children in Lagos State through her yearly programme. We are bringing up a crop of children who are bold, strong, passionate and determined to face the future. By challenging their creativity, they are able to apply necessary skills to solve problems. The arts will help them to apply their power of imagination and creativity to revolutionise the economy of Nigeria.
What is VoTC driving force?
We believe in Nigeria’s future, hence, our effort to catch them young and guide them to make right choices that will transform the country. At VoTC, we are building tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and world changers. Leading change requires education, training, capacity building and proper understanding of one’s immediate environment. Over the years, we have seen that children have lots of information stored in their mind. VoTC platform helps them to speak out their minds, discover what they are born to do, and creatively pursue their goals without distractions.
How have you been able to sustain it?
The team members of VoTC are selfless. We believe in this vision, hence, the level of success recorded in the past. Diamond Bank joined the VoTC from inception as sponsor, the bank believes in the future of Nigeria through child development. We are hoping to work with other corporate organisations for future expansion.
I heard this year’s edition was special, how so?
The 2016 edition, which culminated in an exhibition and award night, was dedicated to the golden jubilee celebration of the creation of Lagos – hence Lagos@50. The mega city of Lagos became 49 years on May 27and the celebration will be on for 365 days! So, this year’s award’s dinner also kick-started the season of celebration. It’s interesting that the date coincided with World Children Day; big thanks to Prof Wole Soyinka and the Lagos State government for believing in children as stakeholders to the future of Nigeria.
Can you recount this year’s edition, from start to finish?
This year’s finalists, representing 30 schools from across the state, emerged from 500 student-participants (drawn from 200 schools – primary and secondary), who took part in a three-day intensive audition in April. They worked on the year’s theme: Sisi-Eko@50: Ageing gracefully? Or Na So-So Pancake?. The project was opened officially in the month of January. Winners emerged before May 27 but the names and schools, which are usually kept secret till the last day, were announced. Emmanuel Richard emerged winner of this year’s painting category, while Favour Uti won the literary category.
What lessons should parents, who frown at their children and wards expressing themselves in the arts, draw from the lives of participants of VoTC’s competitions?
Parents also need a bit of exposure as to how to bring up their children, The VoTC stories have impacted so many homes in the last five years; and we have more participants each year. In 2012, it was quite difficult to convince schools and parents to register, but things have changed drastically as we have more schools on our database. Parents must be educated to allow their children to participate in fora that can develop the children raw talents. Our past winners are now part of the VoTC team as intern, moderators, trainers and great ambassadors.
VoTC seems to be promoting talents yearly, any plans to mentor them beyond the competition?
Yes. We have big plans. We are prepared to collaborate with the government and private sectors to build VoTC Academy. This academy will focus on mentoring children in art, music, dance, drama, poetry, architecture, information technology, etc. Most of the initial courses will hold during holidays and weekends. We will have series of educational packages that will help children to develop their gifts and contribute to nation-building. The academy will also have leadership-building sections where teenagers will be admitted to learn leadership development and entrepreneurship. We also proposed to build a Hall of Fame, where the works (painting and literary) of these children will be put on exhibition for tourism purposes.
How has partnering Lagos State government helped in driving VOTC’s vision?
Lagos State government has hosted VoTC project for five years, their support is overwhelming. The project commenced during the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, and it has been taken over by the present administration. I see a brighter future with the leadership style of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. He’s here to implement projects through adequate planning, proper organisation, control and monitoring! To him, Lagos is a project that must be properly managed to achieve desired goals and objectives.
What should others learn from the Lagos’s example?
Firstly, other states should recognise and work with visionary leaders that are selfless and have passion for human development. The success of VoTC’s project is primarily hinged on the foresight of Prof Wole Soyinka, who sees great future in whatever he does. He has strong passion for arts, literature and child’s development, hence, the total embrace by the Lagos State government.
Also, other corporate organisations should also learn from Diamond Bank’s team, the project was brought to the bank executives without a track record. They refused to be hindered by the lack of voluminous document, but bought into the future of VoTC. The bank is truly the bank for the next generation of entrepreneurs and change agents! Private sectors must invest more into talents development. This is the key elements for economic development.
