FIDELIS ODOGWU; A CONTEMPORARY METAL DESIGNER UNIVERSAL STUDIO OF ART, LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The existence of schools and workshops of learning art in European cities centuries ago, led to the advancement of their societies particularly in checking the rate of unemployment and restiveness in the society. These centers of youth and adult participation groomed both formal and informal participants. In Africa, and particularly in Nigeria, schools and workshops of art apprenticeship has grown to an appreciable stage that many youths and adults have benefitted. The activities of the Igun and Igbesanmwen guilds of bronze casters and wood carvers, the Mbari-Mbayo, the Oye Ekiti experience, the Abayomi Barber school, the Ife, Ibadan and recently Universal Studios of Art, Lagos. The existence of these citadel of art expressive knowledge, groomed apprentices in painting, sculpture, metal design, graphics, bead-making, tie and dye, batik and other forms of artistic expression. In these centers, youths and adults both formally and non-formally trained would go fully skilled to get engaged in the society. Notwithstanding, their professional trade will keep them busy and even working to sustain their individual families, and by so doing, it would be of immense benefit that more schools and workshops of apprenticeship be established in the society.