FG vows to support special needs children in Nigeria
The Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Sodangi, has reiterated his commitment to support children with special needs by showcasing their artistic prowess. The Director General stated
The Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Sodangi, has reiterated his commitment to support children with special needs by showcasing their artistic prowess.
The Director General stated this at the unveiling ceremony of Oyegbola Adegbola Art gallery in Abuja, and the showcasing of creative work designed by Oyegbola.
The DG, who was represented by the Director of Information Service, Emeka Odialu, commended Oyegbola for his artistic work and expressed the commitment of the National Gallery to provide all the needed support to children with special needs in the country.
He said, "The likes of Oyegbola have lots of talents; what they need is the support of the larger society to develop those talents. That is why my DG is always willing to support children with special needs".
Advertisement
300x250
The mother of the Artist, Dr. Eunice Adegbola, expressed joy over the opening of the gallery, saying they were able to identify Oye's talent when he was young, and 16years later, they are happy to see how far he has gone in the creative industry
She urged parents to endeavour to identify the area of strength of their special needs children, irrespective of the shortcomings, and work on it.
"I encourage parents to support children with special needs to acquire skills that will help them because everything is not about reading and writing".
The Creative Director and Arts Instructor of the gallery, Asha Adedayo Samuel, harped on the need for inclusion of special needs children in all spheres of society, noting that it would enable them to showcase their talent in the development of the country.
He said the exhibition of artwork created by Mr. Oye is aimed at bridging the gap between persons with special needs and the wider society.
Advertisement
300x250
According to him, the exhibition seeks to challenge perceptions and highlight the unique contributions of individuals with special needs.
"The goal of the exhibition is to bridge the gap between those with special needs and others in society. Everyone is special in their own way, and society would not be complete without them".
He added that the exhibition also serves as a platform to promote inclusivity in the arts industry, media, and other forms of creative expression.
Adedayo stressed that individuals with special needs have valuable contributions to make and should not be viewed solely as dependents.
"They don’t only need our support; we also need what they have to offer. Just as they rely on us, we also rely on them in many ways."
He called on government at all levels to support children with special needs through funding, promotion, and deliberate inclusion in programmes and appointments.
Adedayo stated that the artist has won several local and international awards and added that Mr Oye is the first Nigerian artist with special needs.
He noted that Oye Art Gallery provides a dedicated space for inclusive artistic expression and collaboration, adding that it can also serve as a venue for government-backed exhibitions and programmes.
