Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group recently hosted a private reception at Tate Modern, London, to celebrate the enduring legacy of Nigerian Modernism, one of the most significant presentations of African art in the gallery’s recent programme.

The Nigerian Modernism exhibition, in partnership with Tate Modern from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, brought together nearly 300 works by more than 50 artists spanning five decades of Nigerian artistic production.

Through painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and works on paper, the exhibition traced the evolution of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through the post-Independence era, offering fresh perspectives to the political, social and cultural forces that shaped modern African expression.

During its run, the exhibition attracted more than 180,000 visitors, while its reach extended far beyond the gallery through international media coverage, digital engagement, educational programming and scholarly discourse that connected hundreds of millions of people worldwide with the story of Nigerian modern art.

The evening convened leading figures from business, culture, diplomacy, academia and the arts in recognition of the exhibition’s international impact and cultural significance

Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, AigbojeAig-Imoukhuede, reflected on one of the exhibition’s most enduring achievements: its impact on young people.

“One of the aspects of this exhibition that stands out most, for me, is the opportunity we created for nearly 2,800 students, many of them of African heritage, to experience Tate Modern. While their encounters with the artworks could not be formally documented, the feedback we received spoke volumes. For many of these young people, the exhibition inspired a deeper appreciation of their heritage, reinforcing their sense of identity and pride in their African roots.”

Aig-Imoukhuede further underscored the exhibition’s broader diplomatic importance.

“I have long believed that great nations are built at the intersection of financial, knowledge and cultural capital.

Of these, cultural capital is often the force that brings everything else together. We saw a powerful example of that when President Bola Tinubu chose to include a private tour of Nigerian Modernism during his historic visit to London, alongside the thousands of Nigerians in the Diaspora who came out to welcome him. It was a remarkable moment that demonstrated the unique role culture can play in strengthening national identity, global engagement and diplomacy.”

Interim Director of Tate Modern, Karin Hinsbo, emphasised the significance of the exhibition and the strength of the partnership behind it.

A defining highlight of the exhibition was the inclusion of seven historic wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection, underscoring the importance of cultural stewardship and cross-institutional collaboration.