By mercy Peter
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) has disclosed ongoing plans at repositioning the institution.
The essence is to make NGA a central driver of Nigeria’s cultural economy and a beacon of artistic policy leadership.
Speaking during a media parley, the Director General of the NGA Ahmed Bashir Sodangi outlined a four-pillar reform agenda focused on internal restructuring, policy updates, strategic partnerships, and the revival of the National Collection through a comprehensive digitisation process.
The Director General noted that the time had come for the National Gallery to reclaim its role as Nigeria’s primary custodian and policy shaper of visual art and national collections.
“The National Gallery should not just be another exhibiting institution. Our real mandate is to set the course for other galleries, provide policy direction, and support the art ecosystem.”
He however said the NGA had been “handicapped due to lack of infrastructure.”
The NGA’s reform agenda is built on four foundational pillars.
He stressed that NGA is undergoing an introspective overhaul to reassess its relevance and efficiency.
The NGA is investing in capacity-building, global benchmarking, and restructuring to ensure staff and systems can respond to the fast-evolving dynamics of the visual arts sector.
“Efforts are underway to review the NGA’s enabling Act to give the institution more flexibility, including the ability to generate revenue and contribute more meaningfully to national job creation and economic growth”
The Gallery has signed key partnerships with institutions such as Goethe-Institut, MOWAA, Julius Berger, and is in discussions with Google Arts & Culture to host its digital archives online.
“The first batch of our digitised collection will be unveiled on August 1,” the DG said, marking a major milestone in public access to Nigeria’s artistic heritage.
“Can you believe there’s an entire generation that doesn’t even know we have a National Collection?” the DG asked rhetorically. “This should not be. We must digitise and democratise access to our cultural heritage.” He added.
Ahmed Bashir also reaffirmed the agency’s long-term vision to establish a permanent, state-of-the-art National Gallery edifice — a long-delayed dream that is once again gaining momentum.
He acknowledged the rise of emerging artists across the country and emphasised the need for centralized mentorship, exposure, and support.
“The younger generation has enormous talent, but without proper infrastructure and direction, we lose them,” he noted.
He further stated that artworks should be recognised as “financial instruments” with the power to generate both direct and indirect employment, contribute to GDP, and support the federal government’s national development agenda.
Ahmed Bashir also acknowledged the critical role of the media in amplifying the work of cultural institutions.
“We must reclaim the narrative and tell our stories ourselves. There are so many groundbreaking initiatives across agencies under the Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, but lack of media synergy has stifled their visibility,” he said.
He advocated for a more coordinated media strategy including partnerships with journalists and coverage of all cultural agency activities to ensure that the work being done reaches the wider public and policymakers.
“The National Assembly is now more responsive to our vision. But to make real impact, we need the public to be informed and engaged. That’s where the media comes in,” he said
Sodangi reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the NGA becomes the apex institution that every artist aspires to be affiliated with.
“We want every artist’s dream to be having their work exhibited by the National Gallery, and one day housed in the National Collection.”
He stressed that With reforms already underway, strategic partnerships thriving, and a renewed leadership vision, the National Gallery of Art is positioning itself not just as a venue for art exhibitions but as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s cultural identity and a powerful tool for economic transformation.
