This paper identifies, exposes and discusses issues related to Creative Arts and the challenges posed to national security in Nigeria. In the realisation of challenges posed by poverty in God-given natural resources and human talents, it becomes viable to expose the government’s inadequacy in the management of a wealthy nation.

Introduction

In this mood, the extent of damage done to the socio-economic security of Nigeria is discussed, and this is traced to the despicable BOSKONA, the second thing imported daily to this country.

Creative Arts has a positive ròle to play and is allowed to function, and the artists should be protected against occupational hazards while Creative Arts is used to publicise safety precautions on the roads, art laboratories and workshops.

It is hereby recommended that the government should support and encourage Vocational and Technical Education towards the political and socio-economic security of Nigeria.

Talents

Man is endowed with talents which are peculiar to him rather than the conceptualised activity in animals and birds, which are otherwise qualified as being intuitive. The major problem lies in the inability of man to discover himself and what he can do. It becomes explicit through a good understanding of the concept of talent and training.

A trained hand discovers what it can do through touching and manipulation, while a trained mind is trained to overcome poverty.

Philosophers’ Views

Highet (1977:13) has stressed that the human mind is infinitely capacious and that while it is possible to know, one can even guess how much knowledge a child will want. Here, it becomes justifiable to treat creative arts as a means of providing security for Nigeria as a nation in the 21^st century.

Nigeria is blessed with natural vegetation, good weather and unlimited natural resources, traded out of this country was our cultural heritage through Creative Arts. Classical wood sold out, possibly the remaining art products during the European contact at Bènin in 1897(Okeke, 1979:100).

No wonder Nigeria had to dialogue for the FESTAC Symbol before it was gradually used to disrobe Nigeria of her cultural and technological heritage.

While it is possible to support the clearing away of the objects of Creative Arts, such as masks, tools, utensils, and idols, it is difficult to remove the fact that the artists of those days had skill and creative arts. This fact will ever remain a challenge to this nation.

The Security of the Economic Sector

The security of the economic sector of the society in this country is threatened by so main factors, which include mass unemployment, poor governance, misappropriation of public politicians and concentration on petroleum oil products as the only means of income for the government’s treasury.

Sadly enough, recent broadcasts by government functionaries promise not to diversify the oil money to agriculture and other economic sectors. The masses seem not to have confidence in the government of the day because of the continuation of unpredictable inflation of petroleum products, which quickly affects food items and other essential commodities adversely.

Philosophers’s Views

Kwele(2004), a newspaper columnist, has opined that Nigeria needs specialised manpower training as a catalyst to improved technology for higher productivity and efficiency. He further lamented over what is behind Nigeria’s underdevelopment. In recognition of Kwele’s (2004:12request, the Federal Government of Nigeria (1981:16) has blessed the curriculum reform in Creative Arts. According to Fadare (2003:2):

Before Arts became a recognised subject in the school curriculum, it had been in existence. Now that it is incorporated into the curriculum, it is possible to train the learners in such a way that they can rely on their skill acquisition for their self-occupation.

In support of this view, Onifade (1990:10) has confirmed that the national policy anticipates that some pupils would end up in the non-formal education system, especially the apprentice scheme.

Akindeh (2003:13) has stressed that for enhanced school effectiveness, teachers should also provide after-school learning activities, which might give opportunities for targeted instruction and academic enrichment. In addition, such school programmes could include other activities associated with youth development, recreation, the arts, and drug prevention.

Need to check the root of the Problems.

Despite all academic reforms, curriculum implementation and vocational skills, Nigeria is expected to come out of poverty. For this reason, there is a need to go back to the root of the problems, which are embedded in the supposed benefits of colonialism to Africa.

In reaction to economic services to Africa, Rodney (1972:12) argues that the conclusion reached by some writers on the socio-economic services of colonial masters as having the reasoning on sentimental persuasiveness. Rodney (1972:224) has stressed further that:

It would be an act of the bravest fraud to weigh the paltry social amenities provided during the colonial epoch against exploitation and to arrive at the conclusion that the good outweighed the bad.

Economic situation

This awareness has brought about educational reforms, which, however, seem jeopardised by the compromise of past political leaders with foreign governments.

The economic situation of a nation, without mentioning the essential goods, materials, and infrastructure, is Essential to the nation and individuals’ Clothing. Clothing expresses personality. Ojo 901:101) has defined clothing as a cultural identification. He further posits that:

It becomes a calamity to an Indigenous man who aspires to erode his identity will further mystify the development. It can be observed that ‘Boskona’, flourishing in major markets in all Stàtes of Nigeria today, could move to a corner to wear the cloth to confirm which one sizes him or her. It is a derogatory appellation.

Creative Arts as A Means of National Security

Creative Art is a broad discipline which covers drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, textiles, ceramics, literary and performing arts.

By implication, Creative Arts affect the totality of man’s life. Going back to BOSKONA, the used clothes, one could observe that it is not only dangerous for a person’s health but also hazardous to the economy of Nigeria. Nigeria is rich in culture and costumes.

Artists can produce fabric materials and designs that everybody would like if only there were support and encouragement from the government, both at the Federal and State levels. There is no doubt that our weaving equipment and looms are underdeveloped.

Traditional house forms in Nigeria are an integral part of the domestic architecture of various ethnic groups of the Nigerian people.

Philosophers’ Views

Olotuah (2001:106) has defined housing as part of man’s material culture that refers to the products of his ingenuity and industry for survival.” Special planning, the organisation of units within the compounds, their shapes, and their usage are rooted in the culture of the people.

Olotuah has lamented the rapid changes in character and style because of the assimilation of alien cultures by the people. One can observe that many foreign architectural designs brought from cold regions become more of a death trap on African soil. A revisit to the cultural house forms will not only enhance traditional heritage but also the beauty of art forms.

The Manpower

The nation cannot afford to lose its manpower through industrial, professional, or domestic accidents. For this reason, road signs and symbols are created by Creative artists for security. So also billboards and food packaging carry cautionary messages to ensure the maintenance of the good health of the people. ‘Smoking is bad’ was slang of the past. Now, the inscription ‘POISON is illustrated on the cigarette package.

Apart from the function of Creative Arts in society, certain local craftsmen catered for leisure hours or periods of relaxation. They are the guild of drummers. Within the same framework, a chain of occupations in local crafts or marked occasions. If properly handled, creative arts have a greater role to play in the technological development of this nation, hence boosting the economy of this country.

Conclusion

This paper has discussed the issues relating to the political and socio-economic security of Creative Arts in Nigeria. While exposing and postulating on the dangers of the lost past cultural heritage, it has been discovered that Nigeria’s wealth is not only traded out through second-hand clothing, but the citizens are exposed to health hazards and economic bankruptcy.

The beauty of the traditional house forms has almost been defaced, and architectural designs alien to Nigerian culture and weather are growing on her soil.

Apart from the educational, social, and economic functions of Creative Arts, it will ever remain a major tool for preserving cultural heritage and a springboard to the technological development of a nation towards economic, social, and political security. You can read more similar posts on our news page of the site.

Recommendations

In creative Arts, to protect the nation’s God-given heritage in all its ramifications, the following recommendations are made:

• Creative Arts (or as it may appear under the nomenclature of Art, Fine Arts, Fine &Applied Arts or Visual Arts) should be made compulsory in all classes at the secondary school
• Our political leaders should be enlightened on the danger of allowing acculturation and assimilation of other cultures.
• The State and Federal governments should avoid the misapplication of skilled manpower. That is, they should be encouraged to stay on the job for which they are trained.
• The Government should reduce customs duty on good fabric materials to the detriment of ‘BOSKONA’ second-hand clothing used to drains our economy and the possibility of transferring strange diseases.
• A copy of the Industrial Protective Act should be made available and implemented for all art laboratories or workshops in Nigeria to protect the teachers and learners from hazards.
• Cottage industries, which will include Pottery, Weaving, Metal Works/Metallurgy, Carving, Casting and any other aspects of Creative Arts and Vocational and Technical Education, should be encouraged.