INTRODUCTION
The
peculiar role that Visual Art plays in the development of the Nigeria economy
cannot be over emphasized, and it is very glaring that the Art as an educational
initiative and a specialized training, when intended carefully in the structural
work of national advancement policies will stimulate the prospective that will
add importance to the different sectors of Nigeria economy.
Omuaru and Nyah (2014) observed that consecutive regimes have
exhibited a lack of logical aptitude and political will to link the arts and
the economy. This has caused negative influence on the economy and the overall
aesthetic significance to education. Every national of any country needs the
economic resilience of his or her country’s lively economy that must indicate
to the comfort of the citizens. The authors further expressed those current
economic growth guides for a smart professor who might be a mysterious nonsense
to a rural dweller who possibly cannot feed on a three square meal. Therefore,
a humble clarification of urbanized economy to an average Nigerian is to make
ends meet. This paper points out the opportunities in the arts that would stir
national economic growth that will reflect on the populace.
In similar
submission, Oyedemi, (2015) posits that Nigeria has boundless
artistic prospective in the visual arts, in which, when harnessed can add to the
development of our indigenous economy like any other source of income, and even
much more than oil and gas contributed. Our view on economic growth guides is
narrow when it comes to art in the face of current economic experiments. For
example, the visual arts in developed communities like the United States of
America, United Kingdom and the Asian nations have accomplished considerable advancement
than countries of Africa. Nigeria’s reserves in visual arts still depend mainly
on foreign inspirations. The role played by Visual art in the Nation’s economic
growth and development cannot be over emphasized. Various writers have
elucidated over time on the significance of arts to economic development. This
sector of the economy needs serious consideration in other to maximize its possibilities. Joe, et al, (2010) argued that if the visual
arts are properly organized, there would be a sustainable instrument for national
growth.
The Concept of Art
The encyclopedia
Americana International (1995), in Godwin, (2009) maintained that
Art is a challenging theory to describe because it’s broad impact. The term
“art” originates from “ars”, the Latin term for
“skill”, which is a remarkable aptitude that is noticeable in any social effort
as ability, as practical to visual art of synthetic project, print and
construction. Though
this preserves the unique connotation, “the art of cooking”. Art
therefore, to others is an attempt to create forms that appeal to our minds,
which is beyond mere picture making, painting or sculpture in our environment. Similarly,
art is one of the skills in producing an object in its extra practice, but a worldwide
linguistic in visual practice. Art is furthermore
measured as a process and as well as an invention. As a process, it means it
involves phases through which we give sensuous and tangible appearance to our ideas
and moods about the domain. As an invention, it means it can be imageries, structures,
nutrition, attires, instrument, song, dance, drama, amongst others.
Obizue,(2000) argued that there is no single and generally
accepted definition of Art, any definition that take care of the
activity(process)and the art work (product) could be accepted as a good
definition of Art. It is also in that regard that Egonwa,(1988)
maintained that art is the result of the
manipulative skills applied by man usually a gifted person to express an idea
in a chosen medium, which divorced from any uses to which it may be put, that
has the sole purpose of growing a rewarding emotional experience.
Nevertheless, art means the visual
arts as it is generally used today, the part of creative aspects that is pursued
to connect mainly through our sense of perception. Consequently, art can be
said to be; dramatic arts, Liberal arts and visual arts. Dramatic arts include music
and dance. However the liberal arts include antiquity, critical thinking,
poetry and literature. Visual arts comprise visual and applied arts. Visual
arts; which include drawing, painting and sculpture, while applied arts
comprise of graphic design, textiles design, metal design, architecture and
ceramics, artistic activities, are the usual means of developing the artistic capacity
of the individual and for noticing and providing for one’s expressive needs. Edesi, (2014) in similar submission upheld that arts are
practically concerned courses alongside the theory. Which includes the
followings; painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics, textiles,
photography, graphics, interior decoration and furniture. These are widely
practiced areas of interest today. Other courses related to the arts that are also
practiced are theatre and performing arts, which includes; music, dance, film
and video arts.
The Role of Art Education in Economic Development
The pride of any nation is the graphical environment
which depends on her survival. Any
Man-made object we see around is the outcome of the
visual skills of a ‘designer’ – whether it is an architect, a Scenery, Custom, realistic
or industrial designer, an illustrator and Photographer. Art involves a wide discipline
that need to be studied by Individuals, for effective job opportunity and
income generation. Thus, many people assume that to study Art, one will only
end up being a professional artist; as this is far from being the truth,
artistic knowledge and experiences are capable of changing individuals to be creative
in whatever field they featured.
Omuaru and Nyah, (2014) quoted Blakeslee (1994) “we know
from experience that no one can assert to be actually educated without basic
knowledge and skills in the arts”. Though, Blakeslee articulates
American understanding, the case may be different in Nigeria as majority of our
decision makers and other influential persons may not have been effectively
exposed to arts in the school, and may likely disregard it in some unusual way,
yet they use the products of art. They express superstitions, hypersensitive on
issues regarding religion and the arts, and brand it as ‘fetish’. Majority of
them who turn in this way could be psychotic from childhood when offered with
toys and artworks, which eventually leads to misconception. Clergymen and spiritual
leaders ignorantly mislead people fundamentally live behind the time and carry
along the consciousness of the past.
In the
light of the above, Ajakeye,( 1982) in Enamhe, (2004) lamented that Art was previously not accepted as a main subject in schools, and
as such, Parents discouraged children
from studying art expressing that art is for indolent people and for persons
who cannot do better in life. Bisalla and Adeyemi, (2016) still maintained that the significance of
Visual art education in economic diversification cannot be over emphasized,
therefore visual arts education is the ingredient of socioeconomic and
political stability of a nation and its economic survival. For quiet sometime
now Nigerians have adopted education as an official component for achieving socio-
economic stabilities and political survival, Visual art education is expected
to create a true democratic Nigerian society and a spring board for economic
diversification.
Oyedemi (2015) lamented those Arts especially images on
canvas and other supports has been an object of great asset in the 21st
century, and Nigeria economy is now diversified for income generation as people
look at other sectors of the economy to earn their living especially in the
areas of visual arts. It is worth to
note that some paintings of the great artist like Picasso were on auction for
300million dollars today.
Omuaru and Nyah, (2014) sees
Art as an educational enterprise
and a specialized practice, when intended conscientiously within the border
work of domestic growth strategies will project
prospectives that will enhance significance to the
micro and macro economy of Nigeria. Unfortunately, previous governments of the
country have shown no interest in connecting visual arts to the nation’s
economy.
The Practicing Arts and Economic Development Product Design
This fact remains crystal clear that from the prehistoric
times the artist is a maker, a product designer and a producer of inventive concepts
in principle and training. The creative
talent of the artist is exploited by the industrialists.
Buser, (2006) reported that one of the first early generation
artist, Leonardo Da Vinci in his “resume”, he emphasized his skill at inventing
instruments of war such as fabricated bridges, siege machines, explosives,
mortars, armored boats and mining techniques, primitive tanks , catapults,
guns, and other firearms. Nowadays, the creative and knowledgeable skills of
the artist are embraced for the production of range of products, like household
objects, cars, air crafts and ships.
Omuaru and Nyah, (2014) maintained that numerous industrialized and business
companies have departments responsible for the production of creative goods.
The automobile is one of the companies that deal with aesthetic forms that are
of high artistic quality. Significantly the artists’ visual impression effects
the engineers and technicians imagination. Nevertheless, the aestheticians
craft cannot be evaded when one views the interiors of automobiles.
Importance of
Economic Diversification
It is glaring that the contrary significance of complete reliance
on trade in oil amplified the requirement and request to expand Nigerian
economy that is largely depended on oil to non-oil export trade. Advocates of
this augmented percentage of non-oil export; dispute on the non-oil trade has
great proficiencies in driving Nigerian economy to a more preferred progressive
development. Therefore, Esu,(2015) reported Onwualu,(2012) that “the
significance sequence attitude to agriculture is capable to open up the trade
and create numerous activities, that will skillfully provide jobs and enhance
industrialization and therefore makes the non-oil sub-sector to hold the champions
for upcoming Nigeria’s feasible economic development”. Nevertheless, successive
Nigerian governments have made determinations over time to propagate the non-oil export trade by instituting
reassuring programs, most of these policies documented variable notches of achievements, for example, the strategy of
industrial development in the 1960s, occupation liberalization programme in form ( SAP) of the early 80s and trade advancement
program in the 90s, that was implemented through increased strategy sustenance
to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) which were made in other to improve
output and therefore, ship of indigenous goods.
Abdullahi, (2018) opines that “the way forward to economic
diversification, sustainable growth and development that any successful
diversification of the Nigerian economy would require complete fiscal and
monetary policy reorientation” Which in so doing there should be a strategic shift by targeting massive
investments that transform the lives of the people and qualities of the
resources of our nation can be achieved. The author further states that Nigerians must imbibe a mindset that is
patriotic, progressive and willing to make hard choices and sacrifices in life
styles and consumption habits. The foremost multi-billionaire businessman and
investor, Aliko Dangote,
correctly understood the imperatives of growth when he remarked while talking
to a group of businessmen” what prompted the nation to go into stagnation was deficiency
of progression. Except development is trendy in diverse segments of the
economy, it would be difficult for the economy to stand on its own.” The author
identified further the types of growths that are expected in a successful
economic growth and development; demographic (natural population increases and
migration) and economic (per capita output). Only the latter accounts for
improvements of living standards, if it outpaces the former, growth therefore,
requires massive investments in physical and human capital. To catch up with
the rich countries and attain higher standards of living and quality of life
for our people, we must strive to develop our national resources and attain a
high level of technological know-how, skills and education. No nation has
developed waiting for other people to come and invest in its country. Foreign
investment in the economy is relatively small at just over $5billion for all of
2016. This cannot by itself stimulate the kind of growth required to transform
a large economy like Nigeria’s. Hence we cannot rely on foreign investments to
revitalize growth. To achieve take-off into real sustainable growth we must
mobilize massive local financing and create transparent institutions that
encourage large-scale investments in agriculture, manufacture, education,
healthcare and training of our population. We must establish a dependable legal
and security architecture and framework, (including good and transparent
corporate governance) that various economic actors can rely and count upon. The
author further suggested that there is a need to identify our areas of strength
and growth poles that can drive the development process and invest massively and
consciously in them at the same time diversify in such a way that we end our
total reliance on a single exhaustible commodity-oil.
CONCLUSION
If Nigeria is to accomplish growth and development, her
economy has to be expanded. Therefore visual art education is a valued
benefit in constructing a novel socio-economic
mandate. The unindustrialized countries must give stern believe to visual art teachings.
A high-quality education is indispensable as it will enhance immeasurably to
the structure that will lead to the general socio-economic recovery and
development. Therefore prominence ought to be positioned on visual art accomplishments
from elementary through secondary level teaching as it will prepare the youths with the professional
skills to pledge a meaningful existence
regardless of the preferred career that children have chosen to commence as divergence does not ensue in a vacuity, and a single
traffic economy needs to pave way to the dynamic growth of numerous segments of
the economy especially in visual arts,
for example developed economy like Germany, Japan, China and Switzerland have
placed top priority in skill acquisition to enhance sustainable growth and
development.
REFERENCES
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Diversifying the Nigerian economy for sustainable
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Esu, G.
(2015), Economic diversification and economic growth Evidence in Nigeria. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281448248, accessed July, 07 2018
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