Fostering creativity, promoting sustainability @Totalenergies open house art exhibition
In line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and as part of efforts aimed at discovering latent artistic skills of young Nigerians, TotalEnergies in partnership with NNPC Limited, Sapetro, CNOOC and Prime recently organized the second edition of the Open House Art Exhibition.
Held at Eko Tower 2, Victoria Island Lagos, the opening ceremony took place on the first day. This availed exhibitors the opportunity to meet with senior members of staff of TotalEnergies such as: Deputy Managing Director Deep Assets, Engr. Victor Bandele, Executive Director People & Country Services Evi Ifekwe, Acting General Manager Corporate Social Responsibility, Tonye Osifo, among others.
The Open House Art Exhibition provides a dynamic platform for talented young artists to showcase their creativity while championing the crucial message of Sustainab’ALL, a company signature moment.
With the theme: “Sustainability at the heart of our operations,” the three-day exhibition availed young Nigerians the opportunity to showcase their artistic prowess.
During his conversations with the artists, Bandele advised them not to rest on their oars, engage in capacity development, network, and continuously expose themselves.
In an interview, Osifo said: “We are keen on our biodiversity. Sustainability and the environment are key to TotalEnergies. The message is reuse, recycle and reduce. We also look for artists who will help bring out the message.
“Last year was the maiden edition. We had one sustainability artist. This year, we have three sustainability artists. The whole idea is to give platform to the young creative to showcase their talents. We don’t exhibit established artists. It’s only the younger ones in school. We have students from University of Lagos and Yaba College of Technology. Ten students from University of Lagos and ten from Yaba College of Technology.”
Saying over sixty works were exhibited, she added: “Apart from the exhibition, we also give opportunities to our members of staff and their children to come out and try their hands at painting. It is also an opportunity for them to bond. They came with their spouses and children to paint.” she highlighted the fact that through this exhibition, TotalEnergies reaffirms its commitment to fostering creativity and innovation while promoting responsible environmental practices.
One of the artists, Queenette Ebong, from University of Lagos described her experience as awesome. A student of Creative Arts, she said, “I feel very honoured and excited to be part of this event. I exhibited two works: “The Difference” and “Eye on the Media.” Miss Ebong thanked the Deputy Managing Director for his encouragement and commended the idea of inviting artists to explore the multifaceted concept of sustainability through their chosen mediums-paint, clay, iron, and even waste/ discarded materials.
On his part, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, a sustainable artist said he is passionate about the environment and his art is leaning towards this. He makes his works from discarded and waste materials. Tejuoso’s exhibited works include: “Omi obe”, “Water kuench fire” and “Mirror in the sun”.
The final day was the Paint and Draw Sessions. Members of staff and their children were trying their hands on drawing, using brush and water colour. Fielding questions from The Guardian, Solar Services Manager, Marilyn Mmeme Abeka described the exhibition and Paint and Draw Sessions as exciting.
To her: “The exhibition this year was very fresh and aesthetically pleasing. I loved the images, recycled materials and ample use of mixed media.”
Asked about her take-aways, she responded: “Sustainability! Somehow, this theme reverberated throughout the art pieces on display. The use of recycled materials by some of the artists and the callout on unsafe environmental practices all appealed to me deeply.”
On his part, a field operations staff, who hails from Indonesia, noted that it was a good company initiative to promote work-life balance. ‘For my family and I, this is the second time. We were here last year, but it’s more fun this year.
Concerning his messages to TotalEnergies, he said: “Keep up this good work. Such support for artists is rare. The Arts allow us enjoy life while learning and appreciating the beauty around us. Thank you for bringing this beauty of life so close to us all.”
Over the years, TotalEnergies has demonstrated commitment to the SDGs. With an ambition to produce more energy with less emissions, the brand is also changing the Sustainability narrative.
For instance, the NNPCL/TotalEnergies Pilot Plastic Recycling Plant in Port Harcourt Rivers State is a Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in partnership with NNPC Limited and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The plant is designed to recycle over 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste per annum and save over 750 tons of carbon dioxide emission each year, which is the equivalent to the volume of greenhouse gasses that can be removed planting over 4, 500 trees.
Conclusively, participants shared the view that, “as a responsible energy company, TotalEnergies is committed to producing and delivering energies that is safer, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible.”
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