The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has commenced preparation to honour Kelechi Iheanacho’s patriotism act in far away London on Saturday.
Consequently, the Council on Tuesday instituted an art contest to portray Kelechi Iheanacho’s display of patriotism as a way of celebrating positive aspects of Nigeria.
Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General, NCAC who disclosed this on Tuesday said the contest is organised in collaboration with the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Abuja.
Interested participants have a month to turn in their art works, which will be assessed by SNA.
The artistic impression, Runsewe said, will be in form of either painting, drawing or printing which must be in 2D.
He explained that Iheanacho’s display of patriotism needed to be commended and hence the need to immortalise him with the art work which will be placed in the country’s museums across the country and in Leicester City.
It will be recalled that Iheanacho, who plays for Leicester City covered himself with the Nigeria’s green and white flag shortly as the referee blew the whistle at the end of the final of the English FA cup between Leicester City and Chelsea. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Iheanacho’s team at the Wembley Stadium in England.
The picture of the Nigerian striker with the Nigeria flag wrapped around him and the butt of the cup on his head has since last Saturday gone viral.
Runsewe said that singular art brought to fore an interesting relationship between sport and culture implication, connoting that a combination of sport and culture shown that he is a true symbol of one Nigeria.
He said, “At the Wembley stadium, United Kingdom on Saturday, 15th May 2021, a powerful and fascinating merger between Culture and Sports showcased itself. Beneath the pomp, glitz and glamour of the European FA final between Chelsea and Leicester City, a unique, spectacular and outstanding show of patriotism was on display. It came in the manner of Kelechi Iheanacho, the big boy of Leicester City football club, soaked in love for Nigeria.
“Fully wrapped in Nigerian green-white-green national colour, he carried on his head, a cultural basket of victory to celebrate Leicester success, the Nigeria Cultural way.
“Hands in hand with Ndidi, a fellow compatriot, he stole the show, the Nigeria way. For a moment, the Nigerian Cultural Symbolism was beamed live to the whole world by digital cameras from Wembley stadium.
“For us at the National Council for Arts and Culture, this uncommon display of patriotism must not go uncelebrated. For one, it speaks of Nigeria as a great nation with great people. With all eyes on Iheanacho, he was telling the world “yes we can ” and with us “it is possible ”.
“To graphically immortalize Iheanacho’s heroic and patriotic feat, we are calling for entries from Nigeria visual artists to creatively represent the quintessential Iheanacho on stage with the Nigerian colour as enacted at Wembley stadium during the European FA finals. The best three entries shall win awards and will be presented to the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture and his counterpart in Sport.
“The winning entries will also be fully exhibited at Ekiti during our 2021 National Festival of arts and culture (EKETI NAFEST 2021). The artistic works shall also go into our hall of fame and arts gallery as a living memory of Iheanacho’s metaphor of merger between culture and sports. “
He also said the best three entries will receive a cash reward of N300,000, N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.
On the bashing of Iheanacho by Nnamdi Kanu for wrapping himself with the Nigerian flag, Runsewe said the footballer had only shown where he belongs. He stressed that by the striker’s action, it was obvious he is carrying Nigeria green passport and a full Nigerian.
