Onobrakpeya, Okundaye, The Guardian dep editor, others get NGA awards

The National Gallery of Art (NGA), on Tuesday, April 18, in Abuja, honoured artists, who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of visual arts subsector, in particular, and the arts sector in general.

At the event, the eminent artist and living legend, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, was bestowed with Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alsao honoured were Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye, who received the Outstanding Visual Arts Personality of the Year Award.

Distinguished Visual Arts Award went to Muhammad Sulaiman, current President of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA). The multi-dimensional artist is a unifier, bridge builder and mentor to young artists. His driving force is the improvement of the lots of visual artists in Nigeria.

Deputy Editor of The Guardian, Gregory Nwakunor, equally got the Arts Journalist of the Year award for his contribution to promotion and propagation of arts and culture in Nigeria.

Other awardees are: Thought Pyramid as Gallery of the Year; Mrs. Patience Nkwocha, Curator of the Year; Comrade Ojo Agbor Idabi as NGA Exemplary Staff; while Helen Ogochukwu Nzete and Izuchukwu Clifford Agba are Inspiring Young Artists of the Year.

Speaking at the event, Diretor General, NGA, Ebeten William Ivara, said the gallery, which has since completed the harmonisation of its Establishment Act for Repeal and Re-enactment in collaboration with the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), is ready to move it to the National Assembly once the 10th Assembly is inaugurated in June. This will propel the Nigerian visual arts sub-sector to higher heights with NGA contributing handsomely to Nigeria’s GDP. For the artists, it will be a season of wealth creation.”

Awards Coordinator & Deputy Director Overseeing office of Director,Information Services Department, National Gallery of Art, Oji Onoko, said, “Mast festival and awards is specifically designed by the National Gallery of Art (NGA) as a yearly event to reward excellence in creativity in the visual arts sub-sector and arts sector, generally.”