The Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) has called on Churches to promote youth talent discovery and creativity to address the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Mr Aderinkomi John, the Chairman, FCT Chapter of the society made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He spoke on the sidelines of the sixth edition of the Creo Art Exhibition, organised by the Family Worship Centre in partnership with FCT SNA, aimed at promoting creative arts in the country

John emphasised the need for more worship places to emulate the Family Worship Centre’s initiative in complementing the government’s efforts on youth empowerment through promotion of creative arts in the country.

According to him, the initiative had over the years helped in taking many unemployed youths out of the street as well as making children and young people aspire to become artists.

‘I want to thank the Family Worship Centre for always giving creative artists the opportunity to showcase their talent
s because in some other churches, they don’t do that.

‘This church deemed it fit to allow us to showcase our talents so that people in the church and outside the church can see the artworks that we produce.

‘By doing this, opportunities are given to exhibitors to showcase their artworks, sell them and encourage young ones to become artists.

‘So, we are making money from it and we are expressing ourselves through it. We are letting the world know what we can do through this. So, the society is impacted too, through the work of art.’

The SNA boss, who described artwork as a means of communication, said the work of artists communicate the truth, theological injunctions to the society.

‘As you can see, most of these artworks have their themes. This is the language that we speak, just like what the preachers preach on the Pulpit. It is what we are doing through our artworks.

‘Artwork is a true evangelism and means of communication and sometime, it is meant for decorative purpose.

‘For me, I can say that the
exhibition has impacted more younger people coming to me, and I have like eight of them learning under me.

‘Some of them came from universities to do their industrial attachment in my studio. Some of them are doing entrepreneurship directly from me,’ he said.

John added: ‘it is through exhibition like this that their parents got impressed and send their children for training and I take them without collecting any money.

‘Some of them have grown up to become good artists too and some of them are exhibiting their works here today.

‘That is the way we can help government to eradicate poverty and joblessness in the society.’

John urged government at all level to embark on advocacy by educating the youth to undergo apprenticeship and have vacation which would help them in future

Mr Chike Emembo, Co Curator and Immediate Past Chairman, SNA FCT chapter, also described the art exhibition as laudable initiative, saying that the idea was to bring young people together to promote the visual art.

‘We have recorded
2,000 participants and above during the exhibition. So, the Family Worship Centre gives a big platform to artists.

‘Incidentally, the church has all kinds of creative artistes right from actors to videographers, photographers, visual artists and musicians, they are all gathered here.

‘In fact, we have non Christians that have come here to make purchases as well.

‘Beyond the church community, people come from outside to buy as well. I must commend the Family Worship Centre on the way it supports this project.

Emembo thanked the facilitators of the initiative, particularly the Senior Pastor, of the Church, Pastor Sarah Emakwu and the Assistant Pastor in charge of Worship and Arts, Ekong Ikiddeh.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria