By Henry Akubuiro
In commemoration of one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus themed “Peace Building and Conflict Prevention, Art and Culture”, members of Rotary clubs of Ikate and Adeniran Ogunsanya in Surulere, Lagos, jointly toured the multifaceted art-bearing facility of Omooba Yemisi Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF) in Lagos, Nigeria, on February 14, 2025.
Regarded as the largest private art collection in Africa, the tour offered Rotarians the rare opportunity encountering and connecting with different pristine artworks. The Valentine lovers’ Day tour was meant to highlight and establish a default correlation between art, peace building and conflict prevention – the theme of the once-in-a lifetime tour.
Preceded by a brief Rotary fellowship that was called to Order by the President of Rotary Club of Ikate, Rtn. Eriata Oribhabor, with the support of the Charter President of Rotary Club of Adeniran Ogunsanya, Rtn. Duke Efayena, the tour had the prestigious guidance of Oloori Funmilayo Shyllon, wife of the host.
The District Governor of Rotary International District 9112 Rtn. Femi Adenekan, graciously led the beautiful rendition of Rotary Invocation (opening prayer). It was a huge opportunity to meet face-to-face with a rare gem and die-in-wool art lover and age-long collector, sponsor, Grand Donour and Chairman, Museum Supervisory Council, Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, and Founder/CEO, Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), founded in 2007.
Delivering a powerful presentation on the theme “Art for Peace Building and Conflict Prevention,” Prince Shyllon stated, inter alia, “Art has always played a pivotal role in promoting world peace, emotional healing, and social change. It transcends borders, touches emotions, challenges perceptions, and is a powerful tool for spreading messages of unity and understanding amongst peoples,” which underlies the raison d’etre of the tour.
The presentation exposed Rotarians to the “forms and purpose of art, created for peace and peace promotion and prevention of conflict with unique photo/statue evidence in Nigeria and overseas. A few examples in this regard include the famous photograph in the United states library of Congress taken during the World’s great depression of late 20th Century, an Instructive image – “The Dove of Peace”, holding an olive branch by Pablo Picasso, Spain (1949), currently housed in the collection of Tate Gallery of London, UK, and several others.
Back home, a photo of the monument of SODEKE, a great leader and warrior of the Egbas, Ogun State, donated by Prince Shyllon, was shown to the Rotarian tourists and lovers of art for peace building and the prevention of conflict in all ramifications.
The recently unveiled SODEKE’s statue, located close to the African Church in Abeokuta, was donated by him, a man whose contribution of iconic life-sized sculptures to public spaces is legendary, including 18 at the Freedom Park Lagos, 25ft metal sculpture entitled “Towards Achieving Distinction” at the University of Ibadan; 16ft bronze sculpture entitled “Culture and Justice” at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, and several others.
Once compelled at a kids’ workshop sponsored by him, Shyllon did a marvelous personal painting and contributed to the establishment of the famed MUSON Centre in Lagos, thus, a MUSON Benefactor. A strong promoter of peaceful cohabitation of people irrespective of tribe, religion, etcetera, he is a major sponsor of numerous art and art-related initiatives on radio and television, including the popular ARTWORLD on OGTV, Abeokuta, and the Grand Patron, Poets in Nigeria Initiative.
A major highlight of the programme was the decoration of Prince Shyllon as Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) by Rtn. Femi Adenekan, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9112. This was conducted after he was formally introduced to the host and members of the Rotary family.
The excited district governor appreciated Prince Shyllon for his numerous humanitarian support and contributions to society through the art. In turn, he expressed his willingness to come back, touring the facility in a bigger way.