A young artist at work in the Yaba College of Technology, School of Art, Design and Printing in Lagos
For their outstanding performances in the art industry,  authorities of the 
Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, on Tuesday honoured 12 alumni of its 
School of Art, Design and Printing.
The award would be a big boost to attract youths to embracing the art industry, 
which is showing positive contribution to the nation’s GDP.
Despite a contraction in Nigeria’s second quarter GDP, activity in the arts,
 entertainment and recreation sector contributed 0.26 per cent, a rise from 
the 0.24 per cent in the second quarter of 2015.
The alumni are Olumide Oresegun, Abass Kelani, Folami Rasaq, Ejiro
 Amos-Tafiri,
 Ngozi Schommers and Taiye Idahor.
Others include Richardson Ovbiebor, John Adeyemo, Sonde Ibukun, Stanley Ohikhvare, Ayodeji Balogun and Soji Kuforiji.
The awardees displayed several genre of articulation at the maiden edition of the Home Coming Exhibition holding from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30 at the School of Art.
Rector of the college, Dr Margaret Ladipo, said the old students were honoured for upholding the teachings and legacies of the college all over the world.
Ladipo described the students as worthy ambassadors of the college.
“The ensemble is a canon of the entire range of creative geniuses from 
this institution.
“The Yaba Art School is an established centre of excellence over the ages.
“These ambassadors, not only benefited from the teaching experience of
 several legends, but from a study of the virtues and shortcomings of 
contemporary works.
“Their works have won them prizes at home and abroad, and we are 
very proud of their achievements, individually and collectively.
“By global acclamation, we contrived to preserve continuity by hosting 
these works, so that Nigerian audience can also savour their quality,
 temperament, illumination and tap from their inspirations.
“Every work on display here demonstrates probably the greatest
 conceptual power of these ambassadors of Yaba art school,’’ the Rector said.
Ladipo said the current economic recession across the globe called for firm 
resolutions among youths to embrace new learning, new thinking, and new 
search for doing things better.