Artist wants indigenous libraries, illustration schools for children
NAN-ELS-4
Children
By Maureen Okon
Abuja, March 8, 2018 (NAN) Alexander Amulu, winner of 2017, 1st Baobab Competition on Children’s Illustration has called for indigenous libraries and schools for illustration for the children.
Amulu, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, on his participation in the competition organised by the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria, in Dec. 2017 in Spain, said that the venture would promote cultural heritage.
“Nigerian children do not have a standard bookshop where they can get or buy local books written by Nigerians and for Nigerians.
“In developed countries, they organise book fairs where books are bought and can be borrowed or exchanged and that’s what we are lacking here in Nigeria.
“The children are the future of the country and we need to inculcate into them, cultural values written in books or illustrations to promote our culture,’’ he said.
He reiterated his commitment to concentrate on publishing Nigerian cultural illustration books for children and also open a children’s book shop.
“We need to create an environment for children who are interested in literature and especially in culture.
“I will concentrate on Nigerian cultural illustrative books for children and also create a book shop that will give children the platform to gain knowledge about the Nigerian culture.
“That will give them the opportunity to appreciate our culture and also to gain knowledge and exposure of other cultures in the world,’’ he said.
Amulu, also called on Nigerian authors to concentrate on publishing children’s books in the local languages to instill and display the cultural heritage of Nigerians in the children.
Also at the event, Marcelino Cabanas, the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, said the embassy would continue strengthening the cultural relationship between both countries in music as there was a great interest for the Spanish music.
“We will continue to organise the classes of pictures for young painters of Nigeria.
“Ilustrisima is one of the important events held every year in Madrid, which we will send one or two young Nigerian artist to participate in one of the important event held in Madrid.
“This is to enable the artists meet with their contemporaries in the art world and develop themselves,’’ he said. (NAN)
ETIM/ECN/EAL
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Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Ekemini Ladejobi