The Vice-Chancellor, Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, Prof. Samuel Oladipo, MNPA, CMCPN, MCAN, FIELPN, has charged the Department of Creative Arts, College of Humanities, to take its creative works beyond the walls of the University to promote Arts Education, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, innovation and national development.
Prof. Oladipo gave the charge when members of the Department, led by its Head of Department, Prof. Kemi Oriola, paid him a courtesy visit in his office during the 2025/2026 Academic Year Creative Arts Exhibition, themed “TASFUED ALCHEMY ’26,” held to showcase the creativity, artistic talents and technical skills of graduating students of the Department.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised the need for the Department to deliberately showcase its artistic works, exhibitions, designs and creative innovations to wider audiences, noting that such initiatives would create opportunities for young artists while enhancing the visibility, reputation and impact of the University.
According to him, art transcends mere creative expression, as it remains a powerful instrument for education, cultural preservation, tourism, entrepreneurship and economic development.
He therefore urged the Department to leverage its expertise to contribute meaningfully to the University’s vision of academic excellence, innovation and societal development.
The Vice-Chancellor further reaffirmed the University’s commitment to creating an enabling environment where students and staff can identify, develop and translate their creative talents into meaningful contributions to society.
He encouraged the Department to remain committed to producing works capable of attracting local and international recognition to TASFUED.
A major highlight of the courtesy visit was the presentation of a 4ft by 3ft acrylic portrait of the Vice-Chancellor by the Department. The beautifully crafted artwork, produced by members of the Department, reflected artistic excellence, creativity, institutional pride and respect for leadership.
Receiving the portrait, Prof. Oladipo expressed appreciation to the Department for the thoughtful gesture and commended its members for their commitment to advancing creative scholarship at TASFUED.
Sharing a personal experience with the delegation, the Vice-Chancellor recalled that Fine Art was one of his favourite subjects as a young student and that he obtained an A1 in the subject in his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) School Certificate Examination. He also recounted his passion for drawing, particularly a portrait of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which he said remained with his teacher in secondary school for several years.
He noted that the experience reinforced his belief that talents must be identified, nurtured and allowed to flourish, stressing the importance of providing students and staff with the necessary support to develop their creative abilities.
The Creative Arts Exhibition, which attracted members of the University community, external examiners and other guests, featured outstanding works in ceramics, textile designs, graphics, fashion and sculpture. The works reflected the ingenuity, practical skills and innovative abilities acquired by the graduating students and highlighted the relevance of creative arts to self-reliance, entrepreneurship and national development.
Speaking at the exhibition, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Rotimi Ettu, expressed delight at the quality of the works displayed, describing the creativity demonstrated by the students as “impressive and excellent.”
He commended the graduating students for their dedication and urged them to make judicious use of their talents while continuing to develop their creative abilities.
Prof. Ettu assured the students of the University’s continued support through the provision of necessary facilities and an enabling environment for creativity and innovation, noting that such initiatives would further enhance teaching, learning and practical skills development across the institution.
In his remarks, the Head of Department, Creative Arts, Prof. Kemi Oriola, encouraged the graduating students to apply the creativity and skills acquired during their studies to address everyday Nigeria challenges. He urged them to transform creative ideas into practical solutions that would promote self-reliance, wealth creation and national development.
Prof. Oriola emphasised that creative arts remained a veritable platform for empowering young people, preserving cultural heritage and creating entrepreneurial opportunities, urging the graduates to continue developing their talents beyond the University environment.
The delegation included the Dean, College of Humanities (COHUM), Prof. Abiodun Banjo; Prof. Chris Funke Ifeta; Dr M. O. Adekoya; Dr M. E. Raji; Mr O. J. Ipaye; and Mr H. K. Olowu.
