‘ARESUVA will meet expectations’

While speaking at the induction ceremony and training for newly employed staff of the parastatal, the Board Chairman of the NGA, Barrister Peter Eze, stressed that, “Every opportunity would be explored to boost our financial strength, including soliciting the assistance of the African Union, who have included the Expo in their calendar.” Optimistic that with […]

While speaking at the induction ceremony and training for newly employed staff of the parastatal, the Board Chairman of the NGA, Barrister Peter Eze, stressed that, “Every opportunity would be explored to boost our financial strength, including soliciting the assistance of the African Union, who have included the Expo in their calendar.”

Optimistic that with the National Assembly rendering as much assistance as possible and the relentless effort of the NGA’s marketing team, the Expo would meet the expectations of both local and international audience.

According to him, “We have just drawn up a budget for ARESUVA, I need not mention the figure, but the amount we came up with, which we have slashed, is much more above what government has budgeted for it. We have to cut down programmes and we are also trying to see if the National Assembly, by any means, could do something because since the festival was made bi-annual, this is the first edition and we cannot afford not to host it.”

Eze added that, “I assure you that we would do all we can within our power to host ARESUVA this year and if, in an international programme of that magnitude, we do not have the presence of international participants, then it is not international.”

Declaring the three-day training programme open, Eze stressed the need for new entrants to be enlightened on government policies, aims and objectives of the gallery as well as their expectations towards the realization of the attainment of those objectives. He disclose that arrangements by the Gallery to engage in exchange programme in specialized fields with the National Gallery, Korea.

“When we met with the management of the National Gallery, Korea, we asked them if they could train some of our artists, particularly those who would restore painting. The impression we got was that it would be possible for us to send them without us having to pay anything.”

He stated that though no provisions had been made for logistics in this year’s budgets, the Gallery was considering inviting the trainers to Nigeria to enable more people benefit from the gesture.

“But unfortunately, no provision has been made for that in the budget because it would be difficult to get them to do everything for us. They said the training is free but we have to provide transport fare for our people. Unfortunately, our budget this year was slashed by over 300/400 per cent. The only option, according to the D.G would be to see whether we can bring them here to conduct the training. It would be better to train 10 people here than to send three or four people abroad.”

In his address, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, Director General, NGA, stressed that if an organisation is set to achieve maximum result, staff training cannot be neglected. While urging the entrants to take advantage of the programme and equip themselves with necessary knowledge to enhance their productivity, Muku stated that, “The NGA would be proud and encouraged to allot its available resources towards training its staff, when it begins to experience tremendous improvement and efficient performances both in your daily office schedule and your promotional examinations.”