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By Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A university don, Professor Kashim Abolaji, has appealed to the Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFund) to make more funds available for the development of creative art studies in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Professor Abolaji, a professor of Industrial Design at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), made this appeal at the annual final year art exhibition tagged ‘Creative Flair’ held at the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, over the weekend.
The event was part of the final year coursework of the students of the Creative Arts Department of TASUED, titled “Exhibition and Display of Techniques/Grand Exhibition”.
Bolaji maintains that the procurement of equipment for visual and applied studies to enhance the practical teaching of creative courses should be given the same priority as TETFund provides funds for physical infrastructure and other teaching facilities in tertiary institutions.
The renowned Professor, who observed the booming trend in the creative industry in Nigeria, urged the Federal Government to show serious interest in promoting creative studies across institutions offering the course.
According to him, equipment and facilities needed to teach practicals in creative arts are expensive, emphasizing that TETFund can come to the aid of institutions in order for them to produce astute graduates for the development of Nigeria’s creative economy.
He, however, commended the management of TASUED for creating a conducive environment that enables students of the creative arts to excel. He expressed satisfaction with the creative works of the final year, which included painting, sculpture, textile designs, graphics, ceramic art, and photography, declaring that the exhibition indicated that the students had been well trained in academics, creativity, and entrepreneurship by the university.
In his remarks, the Head of Department, Creative Art of TASUED, Dr. Oluwakemi Kemi Oriola, described the exhibition as a rewarding experience for the students to display their collections of artworks since their first year.
