Awam Amkpa

Also billed to attend are: Professor Awam Amkpa, New York University, USA; Simon Njami, Afrique Noire, Paris; Prof. Deborah Willis, New York University, USA and Prof. Manthia Diawara, Director, Institute of African - American Affairs, New York University.

They would be joined by some of the finest minds in Nigerian Visual Arts sector: Prof. Ola Oloidi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Prof. Agbo Folarin, Institute of African Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Prof. S. Y. Ogunduyile, Federal University of Technology, Akure; Prof. Osa Egonwa, Delta State University, Abraka; Prof. Umar Abdullahi, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Prof. Rom Kalilu, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State; Prof. Peju Layiwola, University of Lagos; Dr. Kunle Filani, Provost, Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta; Prof. Adamu Mbahi, University of Maiduguri; Prof. B. K. Oloruntoba, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Dr. Frank Ogiomoh, University of Port-Harcourt.

They would serve as Speakers, Panel Chairs or Rapateurs for the different sessions of the summit.

16 African Countries are participating in the exhibition with 24 entries. Six Nigerian artists in the Diaspora are taking part as well as one Canadian and an American. 40 Nigerian artists are also participating in the exhibition.

According to the programme of activities rolled out by the NGA, all participants will arrive Abuja on Sunday, September 7. The opening ceremony takes place on Monday, September 8 with Joe Musa, Director-General, NGA, giving the introductory address.

This will be followed by Performance Art by the Blackman in European Kitchen, Emmanuel Eni, a Berlin, Germany based Nigerian artist. Welcome address will be delivered by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Adetokunbo Kayode while the lead paper is to be presented by Chief (Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, MD/CEO, Oceanic Bank.

The Minister will thereafter declare the exhibition open with vote of thanks by Soni Irabor, Chairman, Central Working Committee, ARESUVA 2008. A gala nite rounds off the activities for Monday.

The plenary session opens on Tuesday September 9 with Prof. Ola Oloidi's paper; "Visual Arts in the Economic Advancement of a Nation - African Space." Lisa Binder speaks on.

"Museum on African Art, New York: In Perspective" and Prof. Ikem Okoye will deliver his paper Prof. Anitra Nettleon's paper is titled; "Rural Artists/Art Market Interaction in South Africa" while Prof. Folarin focuses on, "The Cultural and Economic Viability of Monumental Sculpture in Public Spaces... (What Nigeria Needs to do and Emulated).

Plenary session 2 on Wednesday September 10 kicks off with Prof. Ogunduyile's paper followed by that of Dele Jegege titled, "Strictures and Structures in the Nigerian Art Space".

Other paper presenters for the day are Claudine Pommer and Prof. Sylvester Ogbechie.

Thursday September 11 a star attraction for ARESUVA 2008 will be the Roundtable on the topic: "Networking Opportunities in Visual Arts:

Nigeria and USA Linkages". The discussants who are mainly USA based are: Prof. Awam Amkpa; Simon Njami (Paris); Prof. Deborah Willis; Prof. Manthia Diawara and Prof. Salah Hassan.