Nike Okundaye, 64, born in
Ogidi village, Ijumu Local Government area of Kogi
state. She is the founder of Nike Art Gallery and Nike
Centre for Art and Culture, Osogbo .
Here is her inspiring
story...
Young Nike who tragically
lost her mother at the age of 6 was forced to live with her grandmother, late
Madam Ibikunle, who was skilled in cloth weaving, and saw no use in western
education.
Nike never went to any art
school.Her vocational training from her grandmother made her an expert in ‘Adire’
making, dyeing, weaving, painting and embroidery.
Her international exposure
began in 1968 when she had an exhibition at the Goethe Institute in
Lagos. That was the starting point of her international recognition in the
art industry. Ever since, she has had exhibitions in countries like the
USA, Belgium, Germany, Italy and so on.
In 2000, she was invited to
Italy to train Nigerian sex workers in creative ventures. And in 2006, she
was awarded one of the highest Italian national awards of merit by the
government of the Republic of Italy in appreciation of her efforts in using art
to address and solve the problems of Nigerian sex workers in Italy.
Two American presidents had
requested for her presence during their visits to Nigeria - President Bill
Clinton and President George Bush. She was given the rare privilege of
decorating the bedroom where George Bush stayed during his visit, after he
specifically requested to meet her in Abuja.
Nike who never went to
school but lectures in Harvard and other top foreign universities, says: “I
feel fulfilled. It was a very high sense of fulfillment. Imagine, a little girl
who grew up in a rustic village without any sign of hope for a good future. Now
I stand before PHD holders and teach them. I have been invited to meet
presidents of foreign countries. I think I should be proud of my little
achievements and be grateful to God.”
In spite of her seeming low education, she insists she has no regrets about not attending school. “I have no regrets at all. I give thanks to God for making all these things possible for me. I also thank my husband for standing by me all these years. I must confess that it was not easy coming this far. You will agree with me that for a woman to be recognised, she has to work three times harder than a man.”
culled
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