PAU Gets Donation for Art Museum
Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) during the week received a number of donations from Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon towards the development of a Museum of Nigerian Art. Shyllon, who is widely regarded to own one of the most important collections of modern African Art, donated 1,000 of the best artworks in his collection as well as two hundred photographs depicting Nigeria’s people and cultures to the University.
Speaking at a ceremony to formalise the donation, Shyllon explained that the collection includes traditional art, modern paintings and sculptures and photographs of Nigeria’s fast disappearing cultural festivals. The modern paintings include works by such notable artists as Aina Onabolu, Ben Enwonwu, Yussuf Grillo, El Anatsui, Simon Okeke, Uche Okeke, Okaybulu, Akinola Lashekan and Bruce Onabrakpeya, among many others. The contemporary paintings include works by Disoye Tantua, Segun Aiyesan, and Kelani Abass etc. Sculptural pieces produced by Adeola Balogun, Ben Enwonwu, Oladapo Afolayan, Isiaka Osunde, Okpu Eze etc. Ariyo Oguntimehin predominantly produces the photographs of Nigeria’s cultural festivals. The value of the 1000 art works and 200 photographs granted to the University are estimated at one billion, six hundred and seven million, eight hundred and eighty five thousand Naira ( 1,607,885,000:00).
In addition, he is donating a further 100m towards the construction of the museum where these artworks and photographs will be on display as well as an annual contribution for fifteen years for the maintenance of the museum, amounting to a total donation of 2.2b both in cash and the value of the artworks. This donation is the first of its kind to a Nigerian University and the first donation towards establishing a privately funded public museum in Nigeria. This is also probably the first of its kind in Africa.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) expressed the University’s deep gratitude for the donation. He added that the “donation of the museum is significant for many reasons: first it provides an effective way of preserving Prince Shyllon’s collection for posterity while making it available to the public. Secondly it will greatly enhance the research and educational resource of the University as well as the general public”. He further commented that PAU has a strong history of involvement with Nigerian art, citing the earlier development of a virtual museum of Modern Nigerian Art by the University. Work on the design of the Museum has already started.
For his part, the Pro-Chancellor of PAU, Mr. Pascal G. Dozie commended highly the generosity of Prince & Chief (Mrs.) Shyllon in making the donations. He remarked especially on the intention of the gift directed at both posterity and the entire Nigerian public.
The Pan-Atlantic University is a private institution of higher learning in Lagos. Currently, the University has five main teaching and research units: School of Business Administration, School of Media and Communication, Enterprise Development Centre, Institute of Humanities and Information Systems Academy. Lagos Business School is part of the School of