Following the unexpected resignation of its erstwhile President, Dr. Kehinde Badaru, the Sculptors Association of Nigeria (ScAN), Board of Trustees has appointed Sculptor Ato Arinze (Southwest), as interim president of the association and will steer the ship of ScAN based on already laid down year 2025 programmes. Also, the board, which comprises of Prof. Tonie Okpe of Ahmadu Bello University, Dr. Okay Ikenegbu of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT; rtd.) Enugu, Sculptor Afolayan Emmanuel of Auchi Polytechnic, Prof. Nelson Edewor of Delta State University, Abraka and Dr. Shola Kukoyi of Auchi Polytechnic, has inaugurated the six Zonal Vice Presidents of the association namely- Sculptor Ato Arinze (Southwest), Prof. Ken Koli (Northwest), Dr. Satsy Leni (Northeast), Sculptor Akande Pedro (Northcentral), Prof. Obiora Chijioke (Southeast), and Dr. Ken Njoku (Southsouth).
According to a statement signed by Prof. Tonie Okpe Dr. Okay Ikenegbu Sculptor Afolayan Emmanuel, Prof. Nelson Edewor and Dr. Shola Kukoyi (Secretary), and made available to The Nation, titled Inauguration of Interim President and Zonal Vice Presidents, the board recalled that on the 6th of October, 2024, the association held its AGM and elections of executive officers, however, election of the six Zonal Vice Presidents could not be immediately conducted for logistics reasons. The statement reads further:
“On April 17, 2025, the internal Board of Trustees (BoT) of Sculptors Association of Nigeria (ScAN), comprising of Prof. Tonie Okpe of Ahmadu Bello University, Dr. Okay Ikenegbu of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT; rtd.) Enugu, Sculptor Afolayan Emmanuel of Auchi Polytechnic, Prof. Nelson Edewor of Delta State University, Abraka and Dr. Shola Kukoyi of Auchi Polytechnic, held a meeting with ScAN members cutting across the country.
The meeting which was held at the instance of the internal BoT, was to inaugurate newly elected Zonal Vice Presidents of the Association and to appoint an acting President for the Association from among the newly elected six Zonal Vice Presidents. The internal BoT was constrained to this action due to unexpected resignation of the erstwhile elected President, Dr. Kehinde Badaru.
Recall that on the 6th of October, 2024, the Association held its AGM and elections of executive officers, however, election of the six Zonal Vice Presidents could not be immediately conducted for logistics reasons. Constitutionally, the Board of Trustees, comprising external and internal members is empowered to conduct election and inauguration of newly elected officers, hence, the internal Board of Trustees, standing proxy for the general Board of Trustees conducted the inauguration and the appointment of a primus interpares among the six Vice Presidents of the Association.
Hence, after the inauguration of the six Zonal Vice Presidents of the Association namely- Sculptor Ato Arinze (Southwest), Prof. Ken Koli (Northwest), Dr. Satsy Leni (Northeast), Sculptor Akande Pedro (Northcentral), Prof. Obiora Chijioke (Southeast), and Dr. Ken Njoku (Southsouth), Sculpt. Ato Arinze was appointed the Interim President of Sculptors Association of Nigeria. His tenure as an acting President will terminate at the 2025 AGM.
The interim President, Sculpt. Ato Arinze, the five Vice Presidents, and other elected executive officers of the Association- Sculplt. Emmanuel Ubamadu (Sec.Gen.), Sculpt. Muraina Akeem (Treasurer), Sculpt. Djackosi Kassi Nathalie (PRO), Sculpt. Kunle Fajemirokun (Asst. Sec.Gen) and Sculptor David Adeogun (Fin. Sec.) will steer the ship of the Association based on already laid down year 2025 programmes of the Association for year 2025 (International Sculptors Day, International Conference and the AGM.).
The Board of Trustees, members of the Association, art industry stakeholders and the general public are hereby notified of this development.