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    Akintobi explores African art with fabrics in solo US exhibition

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    A solo exhibition that reveals an end to the way US based Nigerian painter, Akintayo Akintobi approaches his art in the past is ongoing at South River Art Studio, 1300 Fleetwood Dr SE, Atlanta, GA, USA. The historic event which started on October 6, will end on November 3.

    The exhibition entitled “The End of The Beginning”, is a watershed for the artist who graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. It is significant and a turning point in the artist’s career of over a decade of practice in the visual art space.

    The artist, who is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art at East Tennessee State University, USA disclosed that he had been painting since he was seven years old, and about a decade ago, he turned professional.

    Sharing his journey of exploring African art, Akintobi said. “I explore African art using symbols, patterns, and fabrics particularly to Africans in my works through abstract and surrealistic lens. I combine these with lines, shapes and figures to tell stories or teach life lessons from an African perspective.”

    On the historical relevance of the theme to African-American people and Nigerians in particular, Akintobi noted: “The End of the Beginning” focuses primarily on human existence, adding “It features an assortment of paintings about the birth and death of people, the commencement and termination of things, friendships, relationships, jobs, and everything we experience in life.

    “It equally talks about man’s ability to design his life and determine the beginnings and end of his experiences.

    “African-Americans and Nigerians are a people with a long history of hardships and survivals. For them, anything that has a beginning has an end. They rode with this mantra against slave trade, and they won. Now, as racism, abuse, and discrimination are on the rise, these works are a reminder to all black people that they can win again. All they need do is determination to end it.”

    He also spoke on philosophical themes that drive his art. “Many philosophical themes drive my works but the ones that often spur me into creative pursuits are themes on family, identity, love, and perception. I love how families, friends, and communities intercept in people’s lives and it inspires me greatly. I love that you can describe a person as someone’s child, friend, partner, or a native of a place. It’s beautiful when you have relational strings attached to you, and it is painful when you have none; I paint for both circumstances.”

    The artist says he often wonders how people think. He notes that It is this curiosity that birthed his constant distortion of game pieces in some of his works. “It perfectly captures my awe, curiosity, and tireless research into the human mind,” he perceives.

    The exhibition, which is bringing the artist to a point of transition marking the end of one phase and the start of another, is created in five series. They are portrait, family, friendship, human-animal, and abstract series. He explains. “These series talk about the beginning of our lives as humans, the support we get from family, the love of friends, the loyalty of pets, and the end of our lives. And they were inspired by my observation of human life and relationships. I think it’s beautiful how humans relate with one another, animals, and the environment.”

    When asked about the exhibition he had participated in, either as group, joint and solo, he replied: “I have participated in some exhibitions in the United States of America and Nigeria. I was part of ‘Con-figuration’ at William King Museum, Abingdon, Virginia, and ‘Holla If You See Me’ at The Kansas African American Museum, Kansas City in 2023. In 2022, I was at ‘The Black Gaze’ at Tipton Gallery, Johnson City, TN and ‘Striped Down’ at Vestige Concept Gallery, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and ‘60 Years of Artists’ Days’ at Oduduwa Hall basement, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria in 2021.”

    He revealed that all the art pieces on parade on this exhibition promote African culture, especially the Yoruba culture. “As is my habit in most of my works, I input patterns of the Adire Eleko fabric (a fabric associated with the Yoruba people of Abeokuta, Ogun State). I also added some motif from the Ife people’s Onaism’.

    “Most of them have weighty cultural meanings and added sentimental value to the paintings. By their mere presence connotative positioning, I hope people can see beauty of Yoruba and Africans at large.”

    Highlighting the decade journey as a visual artist and how it influences his art, Akintobi shared two of such influences. “The first highlight for me is my improved understanding of art. I have come to know art as something beyond hobby, a job or a mere combination of colours. I now know art as an outlet of deep expression, as a book of history, and as a place for mystery and secrets.

    “The second one is that the concept, meaning, and appeal of my works resonate with people from various part of the world. I’ m glad I can use art as a universal language. These, and the entirety of my career as a visual artist have made me a deeper thinker. I no longer look at the things as they ordinarily appear. I now question positioning, usage, meaning, and the existence or non-existence of things. Art, mine and others, have changed me beautifully.”

    At the end of this exhibition which will unveil 14 colourful artworks borne out of deep thinking, Akintobi hopes that they achieve the same effect on everyone who attends. “I also hope that these works with their Nigerian motif and symbols reveal the beauty of Nigeria to the world. The narrative about Nigeria is unpleasant and bothersome and I hope to change it one painting at a time,” he enthused, even as he added. “This belief stems from the fact that after studying these works during my preparations, I thought more consciously and deeply about them.”

    On the curator, he said. “The exhibition is curated by South River Art Studios. It is an art gallery and studio in Atlanta. I met the studio/gallery management while working on a floor mural with an artist friend. They saw my work, loved it, and offered me the opportunity of an exhibition.

    “The works that particularly pulled them into my craft are those with game pieces; they expressed their admiration for my use of game pieces to express human situations and emotions. Now, we are here.”

    Asked for the new materials on board the exhibition’s works he stated that. “Before now, I used acrylic for most of my works. Now, I introduced satin paint to the materials used for creating these works. I used it alone or combined it with acrylic paint for some works. I also added locally-woven mats to my materials. To perfectly execute one of my visions, I used local mat for an abstract painting.”

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    FG to develop diaspora city to reconnect Nigerians abroad

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    Nigeria Diaspora City project

    The Federal Government is developing Diaspora City to help Nigerians abroad invest and reconnect with their roots, Minister Hannatu Musawa announces.

     

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to develop *Diaspora City*, a tourism and investment hub aimed at reconnecting Nigerians abroad with their roots.

    The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, **Hannatu Musawa**, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during the launch of *Motherland 2025*, an initiative celebrating Nigeria’s cultural heritage and economic potential.

    According to Musawa, the project goes beyond tourism—it aims to strengthen economic ties between Nigeria and its diaspora while fostering cultural exchange and national development.

    “Our vision extends beyond attracting global visitors; it is about ensuring that the creative and tourism sectors serve as critical tools to improve the lives of the Nigerian people,” she stated.

    The *Motherland 2025* initiative is designed as a fully immersive cultural experience, featuring **state pavilions, exhibitions, and showcases** that highlight Nigeria’s innovation, business landscape, and cultural heritage.

    A key component of the project is the creation of *Diaspora City*, which will serve as a **thriving tourism and investment hub** where members of the diaspora can seamlessly engage in economic activities, reconnect with their heritage, and settle in Nigeria.

    “This year, we open our doors to the global diaspora, inviting them to immerse themselves in our rich traditions, explore investment opportunities, and witness the remarkable transformation unfolding across our nation,” Musawa added.

    Chidinma Nwakwo, Managing Director of *Discover Motherland Africa*, described the initiative as a **transformative movement** aimed at deepening Nigeria’s connection with its diaspora while unlocking business and tourism opportunities.

    “This is the beginning of a movement that not only reconnects Nigerians abroad with their roots but also fosters investment and cultural pride,” she said.

    With *Motherland 2025* and the planned *Diaspora City*, Nigeria aims to position itself as the epicentre of **global Black and African culture, commerce, and community**.

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    Governor Bassey Otu’s vision for Cross River: tourism, agriculture, digital economy

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    Cross River Tourism, Calabar Carnival, Food Security, Digital Economy, Obudu Ranch

    Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, outlines his administration’s plans for economic growth, tourism development, food security, and digital transformation, emphasising shared prosperity and sustainability

     

    Governor **Bassey Otu** has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic growth and tourism, particularly through the **2024 Calabar Carnival**, themed **”Shared Prosperity.”** Emphasising the need for **economic inclusivity**, he stated:

    Also read: Cross River State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Abubakar Robert Ewa, Passes Away

    > *“Unless there’s some equality of purpose in every society, there will be no peace… Shared prosperity is the key to achieving progress.”*

    Despite **economic challenges**, Otu assured that the **Calabar Carnival** remains a **major cultural and economic event**, attracting investment and boosting local businesses.

    Plans are also underway to **reintroduce the international segment** in the coming years, including a **diaspora band** to enhance global participation.

     

    Tourism Development: Upgrading Cross River’s Attractions

    Tourism remains central to Otu’s **economic blueprint**, with significant efforts being made to:

    Upgrade **key tourism sites**
    Enhance **hotel and transport infrastructure**
    Train tourism professionals **locally and internationally**
    Stabilise **product pricing** to encourage investment

    The governor assured that **Obudu Ranch**, one of Nigeria’s premier resorts, is undergoing **a major restoration project** in partnership with **Marriott Hotels** and **international investors**.

    *“We are bringing our tourism infrastructure to 21st-century standards, ensuring easy access to tourism sites and stabilising product prices,”* he said.

     

    Tackling Hunger and Revamping Agriculture

     

    Governor Otu has prioritised **food security**, acknowledging that agriculture was once **Nigeria’s economic backbone**. His administration is:

    Conducting **soil mapping** to determine ideal crops
    Launching a **5,000-hectare cassava farm pilot project**
    Expanding **oil palm and cocoa farming**
    Providing **microcredit schemes** for smallholder farmers

    *“We are doing everything to revamp agriculture,”* Otu emphasised.

     

    **Digital Economy: Training Youth for the Future**

     

    Recognising the importance of **technology in economic transformation**, Otu is spearheading initiatives to:

    Train **youth in digital skills**
    Establish **technology incubation centres**
    Integrate **agriculture with digital innovations**
    Combat **cybercrime and ensure ethical tech practices**

    *“The future lies in balancing digital advancements with agricultural productivity,”* he stated.

    **Cross River’s Economic Future: A Bold Vision**

    Governor Otu remains **optimistic about Nigeria’s economic reforms**, drawing from his experience in the **Senate’s Finance and Banking Committee**. He assured citizens that despite **current economic hardships**, positive changes will emerge.

    With ambitious plans for **tourism, agriculture, and digital transformation**, Cross River is poised for **sustainable growth and economic prosperity**.

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    Lagos State tourism commissioner discusses collaboration with Nigeria immigration service

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    Lagos State, Tourism, Immigration, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NIS

    Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, met with Mrs. Kemi Nandap, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, to discuss ways to improve the immigration process at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport

     

     

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Kemi Nandap, at her office in Abuja on Friday.

    Also read: Lagos State launches monthly landmark tours to boost tourism

    During the meeting, both officials engaged in constructive discussions focused on fostering collaboration between the NIS and the Lagos State Government.

    A primary area of concern was optimizing the immigration process at **Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)**.

    Both parties acknowledged the importance of simplifying entry procedures at the airport to enhance the overall experience for visitors.

    They highlighted the critical role this would play in supporting the expected surge in tourism, particularly after the successful tourism campaigns of the fourth quarter of 2024.

     

    Several strategies were explored to improve the immigration process, including:

    – **Faster processing lanes** for international arrivals
    – **Clearer communication** regarding visa-on-arrival policies
    – **Enhanced training** for immigration personnel

     

    The aim is to create a welcoming atmosphere that would encourage international travellers to see Lagos as a prime destination.

    Both Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka and Mrs. Nandap agreed that a smooth and efficient immigration process is essential for solidifying Lagos’ position as a leading hub for cultural, artistic, and recreational tourism, contributing to the state’s economic growth and enhancing its global image.

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