Special Olympics Nigeria Launches Unified Art Project
Special Olympics Nigeria (SO Nigeria) held an event - Day of Art - to mark the launch of her Youth Innovation Unified Art Project.
The project in collaboration with Socially Africa, uses Arts as a tool to drive the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (PWIDs) in the society and adopts a unified model to train, foster friendship and create support systems for PWIDs.
The event which was tagged, “Art for All”, had in attendance Nigeria’s foremost graffiti Artist and Design Consultant, Osa Osakpolor, popularly known as Osa Seven, who spoke about the relevance of art in transforming society. Adeola Oladugba, Manager, Sports Programs at Special Olympics Nigeria also gave a talk on the Special Olympics movement, stressing that PWIDs also referred to as athletes, remain the focal point of the non-profit organisation.
The highlight of the event was the screening exercise conducted to select 16 participants - eight athletes and eight partners – who would proceed to the next stage. The 16 finalists will undergo a six-weeks art training under the tutelage of art instructors from House of Bezalel.
In a bid to foster inclusion and social interaction between athletes (people with intellectual disability) and partners (people without intellectual disability), the Unified Art curriculum is designed with opportunities of collaboration between the participants.
At the end of the six weeks training there will be a Unified Art Competition and art exhibition to showcase the beautiful art designs created by the eight pairs of athletes and partners.
This event will also feature dance competition and other activities to help participant have fun and enjoy the company of their friends.
Special Olympics is an international non-profit organisation that champions the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities into society.
The organisation which recently marked her 50th anniversary in Chicago on July 20, 2018, is evolving into a movement championed by athletes themselves, hence this Unified Art Project was coordinated by Special Olympics Nigeria Athlete Leader, Tomiwa Adeyemo under the supervision of his mentor Abiola Oyeneye.