Poor remunerations affecting output by art teachers , says Artist

An artist, Chika Idu, has identified poor motivations and remunerations from the employers of art teachers as some of the factors affecting their employees’ outputs and dedication to duty.

Idu told our reporter in Lagos on Monday that many art teachers could not put in their best to the job because of poor remunerations.

These had been negatively affecting the growth of the sector, he said, adding that art teachers needed to be well remunerated to inspire them to do more.

The teacher of art at the French School, Lycee Louis Pasteur, Canada, said that the teaching of arts and craft in schools could be an excellent way to facilitate youths learning other languages outside theirs.

“Field trips need to be organised for students as well as seminars for students and teachers of art in tertiary institutions.

“These will help them improve themselves through interactions with their contemporaries in others schools.

“Government is failing to understand that development is driven by creativity and that art is also a great employer of labour.

“Arts and craft can be a great way to include cross-curricular activities in schools to showcase the culture of Nigeria,’’ he said.

According to the artist, unity is promoted when students work together to complete a project.

“They have to use their hands and minds to create, instead of spending more time watching videos and television programmes that will not add any value to them.

“People do not design Christmas or Easter cards anymore because of the use of mobile networks, everything is dependent on handsets and internet,’’ he said.

Idu, however, called for the creation of more art activities to engage the youth meaningfully, adding that such would help in the development of the society.

It was reported that the artist, from Delta State; studied painting at the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State in 1998.

He was instrumental to the creation of Defactori Studios which today has become an art movement among Nigeria’s new generation of artists.

Idu also created Nigeria’s first Water Colour Society of Artists (SABLES) and has been a part of numerous group exhibitions.

He has been committed to exposing the plights of the African child through his work.

Recently, he began an environmental campaign on the health risks faced by children living in coastal slums.

Some of his works are: “Light against visual distortion’’; “In Jesus Name I pray”, “Ada Series”, “Women of the North’’, “Chibok”, “Abandoned’’ among others.