The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
congratulated Mr. Bruce Onobrakpeya over his conferment with the
Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), saying the award to the
octogenarian artist is a great boost for the Creative Industry.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said the
recognition and honour accorded Mr. Onobrakpeya by the Federal
Government will go a long way to inspire young artists in particular
and the entire Creative Industry in general.
He said the conferment of the great award on Mr. Onobrakpeya has put
him in the same league as other great creative minds like Prof. Wole
Soyinka, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Mr. Laz Ekwueme and the late
Ladi Kwali, all past winners of the most-coveted award for
distinguished academicians and intellectuals.
”There is no doubt that Mr. Onobrakpeya, over the years, has been a
towering figure and a great inspiration to young artists, but this
award marks the highest point in his career as an artist.
”Mr. Onobrakpeya remains a great ambassador of Nigeria, having
exhibited his works in the UK, U.S. and Sweden, just to mention a few,
and with his works adorning great museums and art galleries all over
the world,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
While thanking the Federal Government for honouring Mr. Onobrakpeya, the Minister
wishes the great artist many more years of creativity and good
health.
