NGA bill to become act of parliament, Okorocha promises

Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Sen. Rochas Owelle Okorocha, has promised to work tirelessly with members of his committee and the House of Representatives to ensure that the repeal and re-enactment of National Gallery of Art (NGA) establishment bill becomes an act of parliament.

Okorocha, who was represented by a former deputy governor of Bauchi State, Alh. Abdulhameed Mahmud, said this on Monday at the NGA stakeholders’ meeting which held at Radio House, Garki, Abuja.

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He added that his committee would vigorously pursue the matter of securing an edifice for the NGA.

“There are no excuses anymore,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director-General, NGA, Ebeten William Ivara, reiterated his resolve to work with stakeholders, particularly artists, for the betterment of visual art.

Ivara said: “I want to state clearly that the National Gallery of Art has not been able to tap into its potentials because the very act establishing it made it service oriented and not revenue driven.

“Having studied the situation carefully, I am convinced that amending that act will be a starting point in making NGA contribute meaningfully to the general well-being of artists in the country as well as generate revenue for the federal government.”

The keynote speaker, Prof. Emmanuel Wesley, Professor of Sculpture, Culture and Tourism Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria recommended that a new legislation that seeks to expand the revenue base of the NGA by members of the National Assembly is important.

Alongside this are a befitting and sustainable NGA complex, synergy with stakeholders in the industry, identifying donors, among others.

Amb. Umaru Azores Sulaiman, Chairman, Governing Board, NGA, revealed that the National Gallery of Art would release a book that focuses on the history of National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)and the NGA.

“The upcoming book shows that the three agencies have not been able to maximise their potentials because of lack of edifices to house their peculiar offerings,” he said.

The event, which had other dignitaries such as the Minister, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who emphasised the need for synergy among stakeholders, also included cultural displays and a comments, questions and answers session moderated by Prof. Ken O. Okoli, Professor of Industrial Sculpture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.