Wife of the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Shade Olukoya, has described art as veritable tool for confronting problems facing humanity.
She spoke at the foundation laying ceremony of Elizabeth Olukoya Centre for Fine and Applied Art at Mountain Top University, Ibafo, Ogun State.
The General Overseer’s wife said the centre would provide platform for researchers world over to engage in intellectual interrogation with a view to finding solutions to problems confronting humanity, using art.
According to Olukoya, the centre, which consists of studios, lecture rooms, art galleries for graphic designs, painting, textile, ceramic and fashion, as well as sculpture, will help upcoming artists actualise their dream.
An artist by training, Olukoya said artists, as members of the society, have used their creative ingenuity to “provide solutions to problems confronting the world, including insecurity, corruption and global warming.”
While saying the centre will not only help to hone artists’ skills, Olukoya revealed that there are plans for the school to award degrees in visual arts both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Giving the benefit of arts in the society, Olukoya said through various shows, artists have helped to boost the nation’s economy, promote tourism and international relations. She also said stressed that artists are self-reliant, job creators and never be regarded as part of the unemployed community in the country.
According to the General Overseer’s wife, “artworks have been providing and will continue to provide solutions to various challenges the world is facing including depression, mental and other health issues. Since he/she is a member of the society, hears and sees various challenges in the society, he/she, therefore, uses his/her inspired artistic ingenuity, talents, skills and training to provide solutions. An artist can put up something in form of flyers, posters, banners, bill boards, sign boards with text only or text and images, as tools of communication, to members of the society and as long as members of the society are seeing those designs it remind them of their patriotic responsibilities.”
