Imo State on Thursday April 21, 2022 joined the rest of the globe to mark this year’s World Creativity and Innovation Day.
Speaking at the celebration held at International Exhibition Centre, former FSP Park, Wetheral Road, Owerri, the State’s Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mazi Uche Ohia, PhD, said the day was set aside to “create awareness about the interaction between creativity, innovation and development; ideas and creativity are the greatest resources for development and we must find creative new ways of doing things if we must sustain growth and development because we are in the age of creativity and innovation”.
The day coincided with the flag off of a 3-day Imo Creativity Expo which lasts till Saturday April 21st at the same venue. The Imo Creativity Expo is a programme of the state’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to give creative artistes in the state opportunities to exhibit their works.
Speaking further, Mazi Uche Ohia noted, “parents should encourage their children to follow their creative talents; people who do not have skills may not be far from poverty”.
The Commissioner continued, “in line with Imo State Government’s policy of engaging in strategic partnerships and in sync with the theme of 2022 World Creativity and Innovation Day, we are collaborating with other Ministries, corporate bodies and individuals to mark this year’s event and I commend especially staff of my Ministry; Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, ISCAC; Omenka Ndimo; Geldyn Resources; and Creativity Industries Group, CIG, for their roles”.
He concluded his remarks by stating, “I am happy with the successful exhibitions and this is a prelude to the creativity festival coming up soon”.
The Commissioner flagged off a creative contest for Imo Tourism Logo. The first prize will be N200,000; second prize N100,000; and third prize N50,000. He gave a cash reward to the Founder of Omenka Ndimo, Mr Cyriacus Ikebudu, who painted an African Landscape in four minutes as part of the creative arts exhibition.
In his remarks on the occasion, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Sir T.U.C Nwokonkwo, appreciated the Honourable Commissioner and all the collaborators for a successful World Creativity and Innovation Day Celebration. He said the Imo Creativity Expo exhibition would continue till Saturday April 23, 2022, and urged lovers of creativity and the public to visit the International Exhibition Centre, former FSP Park, Wetheral Road, Owerri, for a fascinating time with the arts.
The day featured Omenimo Dance performance, food exhibition, spoken word artists and recitation, art exhibition, playlets, among other creative and innovative performances.
