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With Fine Arts and Acts, Stanbic IBTC celebrates Nigeria’s creative industry

By Eniola Daniel
23 December 2017   |   4:16 am
The main hall of Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, was filled to the brim recently, as Stanbic IBTC Bank rolled out the drums in celebration of men and women...

The Terra Kulture Troupe perfroming at the 2017 Fine Arts And Acts concert in Lagos

The main hall of Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, was filled to the brim recently, as Stanbic IBTC Bank rolled out the drums in celebration of men and women in forefront of the creative industry. An evening of visual art, live music and comedy, the yearly event tagged Fine Arts and Acts, was also an opportunity for the financial institution to appreciation its staffs and customers.

Stanbic IBTC is one of the major collectors of Nigerian arts, with over 1000 artworks in the custody, and their involvement with art is driven by a goal to nurture and promote the development of various art forms in Africa.

The 2017 edition of the Fine Arts and the Acts featured Prof. Olukonyinsola, SAN, and a selected few contemporary artists such as Olumide Onadipe, Adeyinka Akingbade, Obinna Makata, Uchay Joel-Chima, Dare Adenuga, Julius Agbaje and Gbenga Offo.

Speaking on the reason behind the project, the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Yinka Sanni, said our arts and culture play a key role in shaping the future and preserving our legacy as a people. He noted that the expression of a society’s intellect, entrepreneurial spirit and socio-economic progress is enriched in its art form and cultural nuances.

“We understood very early, the connection between societal growth and business success and how arts and culture help to cement the relationship. The Standard Bank Group has over 153 years’ preserved the African heritage and adopt the African philosophy as a base from which to provide business leadership and direction for development.

“We believe that to provide business leadership and direction, it is imperative to support all strata, including the creative industry. Such support, through collaborations, partnerships and sponsorship, is intended to ignite the latent talent and entrepreneurial spirit of the populace that when harnessed will move society forward.

Africa, particularly Nigeria, has a rich history of artistic expressions dating back centuries. From the famous Nok terracotta, the renowned Benin coral and ivory, the bronze sculpture of Ile-Ife to soapstone figures of Esie, in igbomina land, the Tsoede art of the Igalas and the masterfully crafted wooden masks of the Ibibio people, and to the contemporary art forms on canvas and other medium, there is an abundance of creativity and artistic talent in the country.

A desire to nurture and encourage these arts forms and other, he said, underscores the company’s involvement with arts.

“This support is important to inspire enthusiasm; innovation and creativity in the industry in a way that will help drive the economic development. Arts and business are intertwined. Arts command revenues for the artists, as well as investors, but must rely on the superstructure business can provide to thrive. Business can equally learn a thing or two from arts in terms of creativity, enthusiasm, variety and expertise. We believe the platform provided by art is imperative not only for social interaction but also for business engagement,” he said.

Meanwhile, the rich collection of talents from last year, which on display at the event, is reflective of the array of talents, depth of experience and expertise and the products range resident in the Standard Bank Group.

“We have improved the art of moving our clientele forward, in whatever enterprise they are engaged in through the creation of bespoke solutions that address their diverse needs. We hope to continue to show our commitment to sustainable advancement by actively seeking opportunities like the Fine Arts and The Acts to support enterprise and highlight how collaboration can help create ideas and infuse the spirit of oneness, ingredients required for society’s growth and development.”

On his part, professor of Corporate Governance at Lagos Business School, Fabian Ajogwu, who spoke on the topic, Treasure, Profit or Prestige, said, “there are many, who wonder why people collet arts and it leads me to talk about how life more than anything imitate art far more than art imitate life.”

He described art as a lady and gentlemen kind of thing, adding that collecting arts means so many things to different people.

“For some, it is a hobby, for others it’s prestige, and yet there is a group that sees art as way of diversifying investments; you can also get the combination of all of these. Some wish art have a specific meaning, but I have come to agree that art shouldn’t mean anything; you are meant to appreciate it,” he said.

Ojogwu, while thanking the bank for celebrating art, advised that art must be protected and artists must be celebrated.

Among artistes and comedian on parade at the event include Timi Dakolo, Isaac Geralds, Basketmouth, KennyBlaq, as well as the Terra Kulture crew that wrapped up the evening with a scintillating performance.

Consulate General, People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Yao Wenjun; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mr Yinka Sanni; and Administration Director, People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Wang Jianzhong, were among dignitaries at the event.

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