The National Gallery of Arts has inaugurated a committee to plan and execute Nigeria’s first elaborate celebration of World Art Day in 2026, marking a renewed national commitment to recognising the role of art in cultural identity and development.
World Art Day is an international celebration of the fine arts which was declared by the International Association of Art (IAA) in order to promote awareness of creative activity worldwide.
Speaking in Lagos, Oladipo Adetayo, Curator at the National Gallery of Arts, said the initiative seeks to elevate Nigeria’s participation in the global art celebration, which has often been more pronounced in other parts of the world.
“We have been celebrating World Art Day in other parts of the world, but it has not been elaborately celebrated in Nigeria. This committee will work out the modalities for how the next celebration will be done in Nigeria. We have almost six months to plan, so we can look forward to a good outing,” Adetayo said.
According to him, art should be recognised and celebrated because art reflects the history and life of every nation.
“It portrays past events, cultures, individuals, and ways of doing things. By celebrating art, we bring our history and our present to life,” he said.
Adetayo revealed that the committee currently comprises seven members but will expand into subcommittees as preparations progress toward the global celebration in April 2026.
The Chairman of the Committee, Animu Oboirien, an artist and curator with the National Gallery of Art, described the upcoming World Art Day in Nigeria as a full-scale project that will involve extensive collaboration across public and private sectors.
His words: “We are going to organise and execute the programme as a project. We’ll be visiting places, agencies, embassies, and renowned personalities in the arts. Art is of great importance all around the world, especially in Nigeria. Our communities are defined by art, and this event will celebrate both the artists and the art itself.”
He emphasized that the celebration will serve as a platform to honour Nigerian creativity and showcase the country’s artistic diversity to the world.
Also speaking, Ezinne Azunna, Project Coordinator of the African Maritime Art Exhibition, who also serves as a consultant and member of the committee, said:
“Essentially, it’s a day for creatives to celebrate every arm of the creative sector. The National Gallery of Art is spearheading the World Art Day. We’re hoping that it works as we plan, and we will get the buy-in of people. I’ve also been appointed a member of that committee as a consultant.”
Members of the World Art Day Committee include; Oladipo Adetayo-Curator; Ezinne Chinwe Azunna- Consultant; Animu Oboirien- Chairman; Bello Debola; Marcel Ubuane; Salau Olabimpe Shakira; Taiwo Owoyemi; Ikoyo-Eweto Yvonne; Nkemjika Akunna; Itodo James; and Akinuleya Timony.
