Pictorial exhibition holds in Mandela’s honour

The management of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) opened a section of its library to the public on Monday, July 16, 2018 for an exhibition documenting and celebrating the life of the late South African President and anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela. The photo exhibition is one of two programmes organized by the institute […]

The management of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) opened a section of its library to the public on Monday, July 16, 2018 for an exhibition documenting and celebrating the life of the late South African President and anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela.

The photo exhibition is one of two programmes organized by the institute to mark the 2018 Nelson Madela Day and the posthumous centenary birthday of Mandela. 

The NIIA Director, Library, Abimbola Dada who stood in for the Director General, Bukar Bukarambe, gave guests a tour of the exhibition.

Arranged in different sessions, were photographs chronicling his life. They were displayed under tags like ‘Mandela’s early years and family;’ ‘Mandela as a family man;’ ‘Apartheid years;’ ‘Mandela presidential campaign;’ ‘Oath of office;’ ‘Mandela with delegates, Campaign against HIV/AIDS, Awards, Honours and Sport activities;’ ‘Mandela’s 90th birthday;’ ‘Winnie and Graca;’ ‘Funeral’ and ‘Newspaper clipping,’ as well as ‘Mandela quotes and courage.’

The exhibition also has a section on books including autobiographies, biographies and those capturing the struggles against the white apartheid in South Africa. Within the listing was the popular, ‘Long walk to Freedom,’ ‘Nelson Mandela: a biography,’ among others. Situated closed to the books was the video section where a biography of the anti-apartheid struggle was showing.

Dada said, “We believe with this effort, we are helping in preserving the history of who Mandela was, what he stood for, how he fought his battles and how the struggles were won.”

She added that, “What we have here may not have captured everything, it nonetheless touches on the basics, some of which we cannot ignore anytime we talk about the life and time of the great Madiba.”

On his part, the South African Consul General in Lagos, Darkey Africa, who declared the exhibition open, described the event as a great initiative, saying, the gesture would go a long way in preserving the legacy of Nelson Mandela and serving as resource centre for those who might be interested in knowing about Mandela, especially the younger generation.

He said, “If you look at the pictures, you will see clearly that they have succeeded in capturing the growth and evolution of Nelson Mandela. This is good because the younger generation of Africans and everywhere else, need resources like this to know more about this global icon. On our part at the South African Consul General, we are delighted with this initiative and we hope it will serve generations to come.” 

Earlier at a lecture hosted by the Institute, Prof. Soyinka said while Mandela lived and related like every other human being, his self-sacrificing, courage and determination, among other features, stood him out and reasons why the world will never forget him.

“Till today, the world will not let go of Madiba. When he was battling with his life and one of his oldest friends said it is time to let him go, I said no, that friend did not understand the world; it is not the time to let him go. If he understood the world, he would not say that. And even after death, we cannot let go of him,” Soyinka said.

The Nobel Laureate who said he learnt from the late apartheid icon, the culture of eating breakfasts, also said, the younger generation has a lot to learn from his life and time because he was a deserving role model.

The Director, United Nations Information Centre in Lagos, David Kayanja, said, the annual celebration of Nelson Mandela Freedom Day, is in recognition of the life lived by the anti-apartheid hero. He said these are in tandem with features and ideals professed by the global body, especially on humanity and community developments.