Painting Sardauna’s portrait is a blessing to my career – ABU Artist
From Isa Sa’idu, Zaria
The jovial countenance of Aminu Ayuba Ahmad was infectious. He is a staff of the Ahmadu Bello University’s Department of Fine Art. His excitement stemmed from his portrait of the late Premier of the defunct Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.
The calibre of dignitaries that graced the commissioning of this work made Ahmad emotional. As such, he described the artwork on the late Premier as a blessing to his career.
A portrait of the late Premier painted by Ahmad is now prominently placed at the inner entrance of the ABU Senate building welcoming all staff and visitors to the building.
Ahmad said, “What is adding to my joy is the fact that this little effort attracted the attention of the university’s management. Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, the management team and other dignitaries, commissioned this portrait and prominently placed it in the Senate building as part of the university’s 40th convocation ceremonies. This is a blessing to my career, because as long as the portrait continues to hang on the building, my name and effort would continue to be appreciated.”
He said the legacies of the Sardauna are still very much visible in all the nooks and crannies of the 19 Northern states, therefore any effort aimed at eulogising the late Premier is cherished by the citizens of the region.
Ahmad said the Sardauna’s portrait, commissioned by the Vice Chancellor Professor Ibrahim Garba, was only one of his numerous works, saying that on January 29, 2016, his solo exhibition on Kano royalty was commissioned by the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, as part of the ABU’s 38th convocation ceremony.
He said, “That work was named Bakan Dabo. It was also an event that attracted many dignitaries like Africa’s business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, his Majesty Obi of Onitsha and Chancellor of ABU among many others. That exhibition earned me the Vice Chancellor’s merit award and an accelerated promotion in the university.”
He said his painting of much celebrated Nigerian car designer Jelani Aliyu is part of the works that are enriching his archive.
Ahmed said if top government officials would emulate the practice of encouraging young Nigerian artists, the sky would only be their stepping stone and Nigeria’s art, cultural and tourism sectors would be better for it.
The Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Garba, said the university management decided to prominently place the portrait of Sardauna because they deemed it as something improper for the Senate of the university to continue to exist without the picture of its founder.