National Museum of Unity, IFRA-Nigeria trains college students on pottery making

By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju

To encourage curiosity in pottery making in colleges, the Museum of Unity in partnership with the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria) on Tuesday organised a one-day Artistic Workshop on Pottery Making.

Mrs Oriyomi Otuka, the Curator National Museum of Unity stated that the wokshop is to showcase the wealthy traditions of pottery-making to the youthful era.

Otuka stated that the artwork of pottery is one among humanity’s oldest inventive expressions, connecting us to our previous.

“While permitting us to mildew the current and picture the longer term. Beyond its inventive magnificence, pottery has purposeful, cultural, and financial significance.

“ It tells stories of communities, preserves heritage, and serves as a medium for creativity and innovation,” she stated.

Otuka stated that the workshop is hands-on, providing contributors the distinctive alternative to not solely observe however to actively interact within the craft.

“ They skilled the whole course of from molding clay together with your palms to creating your individual inventive items.

“This sensible method permits one to totally immerse yourselves within the artwork kind, enriching your understanding and appreciation of pottery,’ she stated.

The Curator, nevertheless, urged the scholars to make sufficient use of the invaluable probability to mix theoretical data with sensible software.

“The abilities and insights you achieve right here at this time could encourage new concepts on your educational tasks, entrepreneurial ventures, or inventive pursuits.

“Deepen your appreciation for pottery and uncover new methods to specific your creativity.

“Remember, each masterpiece begins with a single step, and for a few of you, that first step begins at this time together with your palms within the clay.

“At the National Museum of Unity, our mission goes past preserving artifacts; we purpose to foster a residing connection to tradition and heritage.

“Workshops like this play a crucial role in fulfilling that mission by nurturing talent, inspiring innovation, and preserving traditional crafts for future generations,” she stated.

She appreciated IFRA Nigeria for his or her unwavering help and dedication to selling arts and tradition in Nigeria.

“Their sponsorship of this workshop exemplifies their dedication to empowering communities through education and creativity,” she stated.

Dr Delphine Manetta, IFRA-Nigeria consultant stated that they’re a analysis establishment, and typically they get entangled in tasks for enlightenment and empowerment.

Manetta stated that Mrs Adetunde Adetoro made the workshop reasonable.

“ She’s a scholar of University of Ibadan and she or he enriched the venture. She labored on a few of the objects on the museum and introduced them again to life.

`She made the objects converse and discuss to us whereas simply taking a look at them. We are geared at selling new dialogue round these heritages, which is a norm across the Nigerian populace.

“Today’s pottery workshop was an summary concept to start with, and I’m glad it got here to move. The younger ones are studying from somebody with huge data of pottery, and that’s an excellent strategy to affect data.

“He made he younger ones be taught and know in regards to the uncared for heritage, which is pottery,’ she stated.

A 16- 12 months outdated Lekan Fatai of Samfort Group of Schools stated he’s conversant with pottery as he used crimson clay to mildew issues.

Fatai stated that he does molding for enjoyable and has no plans to earn a living from it.

“ What I simply made us a cup that had cowl and an deal with. It was enjoyable doing this and I intend making many extra issues,’ ‘ he stated.

A 16- 12 months outdated, Favour Okiye of Ibadan Grammar School stated she’s not been doing pottery works however she’s pleased to be a participant of the workshop.

Okiye stated that at this time was her first day of creating one thing with clay.

“ I like artworks at this time is my first time in a pottery class and I’m pleased to have my palms on clay.

“ I made a chair, tea cup that has handle and throw pillows . I hope henceforth I will be happy to lay my hands on clay so as ro make more things,” she stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that no fewer than 200 college students from each main, secondary and better establishments attend the workshop.

Some of the faculties are : Amazing Grace Model School and College, Ibadan Grammar School, Glorious Kings and Queens College, Samford Group Of Schools, University Of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan and Leadcity University.

NAN experiences that Akinkunmi Oyelere a ceramist popularly referred to as AkinPotter skilled the contributors. (NAN) www.nannews.ng