The founder, of Nike Art Gallery, Chief Mrs Nike Okudayo has disclosed that she is fostering diplomatic ties using her Art Gallery as a viable tool.
Mama Nike as she is fondly called disclosed this Friday at a workshop organized for expatriate wives at the Art Gallery, in Abuja. She said: “It is very pleasing to see Art bringing all the ambassadors together under the locust beans.
“It is a way of bringing them close to nature like the locus beans we use in cooking our soups, very natural, the reason we don’t have lots of cancer cases in Nigeria. The locust beans are good for the eye and also the shade like most villages that cook under the tree, that is why the workshop is held under the tree for them to see our natural environment that is clean and free from pollution. It is also therapeutic. Looking around everyone is happy and excited at the cool natural ambience.
“These wives of ambassadors will carry the good news about Nigeria back home. Because they have a misconception about Nigeria, this Art workshop will correct that narrative.
“Nigerian food, Nigeria films and Nigeria Art all speak volumes of the country’s greatness. See how happy everyone is under the locust beans. They were all excited to create Adire, tie and die by themselves. It is a good image for Nigeria.”
The wife of the Canadian High Commissioner, Grendel Alvarado, expressed excitement at the Art workshop and stated that “Nigerian art is very diverse, and beautiful.
“It shows the culture and lifestyle of the country and its people. Mama Nike does activities that are interesting and promote the Arts in Nigeria. I am impressed with the training, I did the tie and dye and this is the first time I have done it. It is a nice experience.”
The representative of the India High Commission, Simrinta Letha, excitedly added: “India and Nigeria I believe, already collaborate on a lot of issues and India also has similar art, such as the tie and die.
“Today, I painted the beauty in Nigeria. I learnt so much from the wonderful arts here with Mama Nike. It has been a lovely experience. The painting took me only 10 minutes. I have seen Nigeria in various places but today has been an Eye opener. It is really beautiful.”
Also speaking, the Assistant Secretary General, Society of Nigerian Artists, Binta Salihu Garba, lauded Mama Nike and revealed her intention to go to Kano with all she has learnt from the Art Workshop.
Her words: “First I am very excited to meet Mrs. Okudayo Oyenike. What she has done with Art is very impressive. I learnt how Adire is made, I was able to create two different designs and I am happy about that. I will take my newly gained knowledge to my state Kano, to teach women and hopefully empower them.”
