A Sculptor, Patrick Agose, on Thursday lamented that Nigeria’s neglect of its priceless works of art was contributing to the incrasing theft of the items.
``Nigerian arts are being taken out of the country every day, by those who know the value’’, Agose, who the Secretary, Universal studios of Arts, Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria in an interview in Lagos. According to him, those stealing the art works are doing so with active connivance of Nigerians.
``We who own the works do not know the value, so people from outside are making away with our valuable art works. They do this with the connivance of our people. ``I believe that the common man on the street do not know the value of the art work they are selling because if they do, they will not do it.
``In their mind, they believe since someone else wants it, just let them have it, after all what is so special about a carved object; and they are given a token for it.
``They do not know that it is a source of income for some other person’s survival.
``They are not aware that it is someone’s creativity, an intellectual property, created after many months of toiling to make it what it is,” Agose said.
The secretary pointed out that government had not really harnessed arts and culture, to make Nigerians appreciate its value.
``Government is supposed to create awareness and sensitise the public about these works because it is the custodian of art.
``The opportunities art provides should be harnessed by government, I guess it is still in the dark about what art can earn the nation,” he added. Agose said many countries in the world were surviving on art works, adding that Nigeria should also exploit its economic potentials to the fullest. NAN
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