Use creative arts to dev Nigeria, says Prof. Gbaden
|By Musa Ishaq
Blaise Gundu Gbaden, a professor of painting at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), has called for the use of creative arts for Nigeria’s development.
Gbaden, the Dean of Environmental Design, FULafia, made his call while delivering his professorial inaugural lecture.
Gbaden’s inaugural lecture, titled: “From Long Trains in the Wet Soil to Social Ideation: Individuation on Art, Inspiration and Process,” was held at the MIS Multi-Purpose Hall, Permanent Site Campus of the University.
His inaugural lecture, mainly, focused on who an artist is, what inspires his art, how he works and his aspirations.
Gbaden said: “I perceive painting as a means of production. In economics, there’s division of labour where some people produce food and others engage in other activities. Painting should, therefore, not be seen as just an art without any economic relevance as most philosophies would want it to be perceived.”
Gbaden lamented that “drawing is taken for granted by most artists who tend to use it as a process to an end rather than a finite art form in its own right.”
He argued that drawing can be used as an instrument for understanding the contemporary Nigerian state.
He said that his artistic painting works “examine the process of bringing to artistic fruition the various themes of socio-economic quagmire as found in the cultural deterioration of Nigerian society.”
Gbaden said that his academic inspirations were derived from the traditional, cultural and contemporary ideologies and how they apply to various art ventures.
In his speech at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, described Gbaden “as an accomplished professor of painting whose numerous academic works and presentations attested to his contributions to knowledge in his field.”
Abdul Rahman, while congratulating Gbaden and his family, applauded him for his outstanding contributions as the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design.
Welcoming participants to the occasion, Prof. Josephine Odey, the Chairperson, Inaugural Lecture Committee of FULafia, said that the 16th inaugural lecture delivered by Gbaden was the fifth lecture in 2024.
Odey commended Gbaden’s contributions to knowledge, saying that Gbaden has added value to his students and nation in general.
The lecture was attended by many dignitaries including the Managing Director, National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Sodangi, who was represented by Mr Chukwudubem Egbunike, the Ag. Director, Planning and Research Department, National Gallery of Art, Abuja, the Zhe Migili, clergymen, staff and students from various universities across Nigeria.
The occasion began with an exhibition of artistic paintings of the inaugural lecturer and climaxed with the presentation of certificate, plaque and gift to Gbaden by Abdul Rahman.