NGA’s pictorial ‘March to Nationhood’
Official ceremonies began with the unveiling of the Velodrome of the National Stadium, Abuja for the exhibition on Culture and History organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. In this same spirit, the National Gallery of Art supported by the ministry has organised the first ever pictorial exhibition of chronicling Nigeria’s history […]
Official ceremonies began with the unveiling of the Velodrome of the National Stadium, Abuja for the exhibition on Culture and History organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. In this same spirit, the National Gallery of Art supported by the ministry has organised the first ever pictorial exhibition of chronicling Nigeria’s history from pre-colonial, colonial to post-colonial era.
The exhibition which began last Wednesday at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja was split into over sixteen categories which include photographs of all involved in the Pan-African and Nationalist movements; Constitutional Development; the various regimes of government; Civil war and the effects the war had on society; tourism; religion; transportation evolution and agriculture when they were thriving sectors, as well as culture and the arts. It also showcased Nigeria’s first time achievers in various fields like sports, mathematics, amongst many other features of the country’s fifty year metamorphosis.
With a hall full to the brim of Nigerians and foreigners cutting across every age generation and walks of life, glued to the screen which reeled out recorded video clips of Nigeria’s growth from pre-colonial era till date, former head of state, the revered General (Dr) Yakubu Gowon who also chaired the outing declared the event open.
Described as the most suitable for such a role considering his part in the early years of Nigeria’s growth after independence and his insistence for Nigeria to remain one united nation, he further endeared guests to himself with his well received speech. He said, “It is in order that we celebrate the event and tell our story loud and clear; the story of our ‘March to Nationhood’; tears and toil, the trials and tribulations, the joys and triumphs that follow.” He charged all present to recall with pride, the way and manner Nigeria strove not only to maintain her unity but to improve on it and create a united and indivisible nation under God. While congratulating the ministry and the NGA, he suggested that such an event should not only be celebrated during Nigeria’s independence celebration but a yearly one that should help us assess our progress and development. “Let it teach us to always work harder, achieve more and count our blessings.”
Dr. Gowon stated that there have been radical transformation and infrastructural development as well genuine promotion of national unity and freedom. But regardless of these, he urged that as faithful, Nigerians must continue to cherish and uphold their faiths and use them as instruments of peace and unity in the nation to embrace one another as Nigerians under God.
Also present at the opening was the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who applauded the initiative of the NGA and urged them to keep the flag flying.
In an earlier remark, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation expressed delight over presenting the exhibition which he said compliments the exhibition on Nigeria’s culture and history. He stressed that, “Exhibitions have become for us a very important means of communicating with our people. He noted that the exhibition is not a mere case showing abstract photographs or merely pasting them on screens, but instead the Gallery has presented them with detailed and knowledgeable explanations and documentations.
The exhibition brought together foreign heads of mission and other diplomatic personalities.
Speaking on the exhibition, the Press and Cultural attaché of the German Embassy, Mr. Burkard Weth said, “I have been so educated about Nigeria looking at the documentations here, although I have only spent three months. Nigeria has made a lot of progress and the optimism they express which is a stronghold for them is evident in these photographs.”
While stating that the NGA has always distinguished herself and pledging the ministry’s support to her programmes, he proposed that the tempos of the exhibition be increased as well as integrated into the overall diplomacy of the nation in collaboration with the ministries of external affairs and education.
In his address, the Ag, Director-General of the NGA, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, informed that the exhibition is the seventh in the series chronicling Nigeria’s history. “The first was Unity in diversity which was staged to complement the famous Zik/Gowon symposium in 1994. Since then we have adopted several themes to express aspects of our nationhood.”
The exhibition which also promoted a pictographic display on issues bordering on morality, distinction and achievements, brought together primary and secondary school children, many of whom never imagined they would ever come this close to experiencing their nation’s history outside what their teachers taught them or their text books contained.
Constantly touching the pictures as if in a dialogue with and questioning the images in the photographs, Miss Agatha Ibe of the Stella Maris School heaved a sigh, saying, “At last, I have seen what you all look like and now I have a better understanding and appreciation of what I hear in class and faces I see on the naira notes.”