ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPLOITS OF SELECTED GRADUATES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINE AND APPLIED ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA, 1980-2010

ABSTRACT

This study investigated education in Nigerian Universities, their negligence and embraces so far, with eight graduates of the department of fine and applied art, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as highlight. The artists were investigated as have entrepreneurial impressions in the Nigerian labour space, with their potentials to cross over to section other than their initials spots of training in the visual art, as major rating points. The specific objectives of the study were to:(i) identify the areas of  entrepreneurship focus of the graduates of Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as representing the art products of the school from 1980 to 2010, with the eight artists in view, (ii) to identify the predominant challenges encountered by the eight artists in their areas of entrepreneurial preferences, and (iii) To determine the areas of intervention required by graduates of the Department of fine and Applied Art, University of  Nigeria, Nsukka. The survey research design was adopted for the study while eight graduates of the Fine and Applied Arts Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka were sampled for the study. The artists were Tayo Adenaike (water colourist/Uli motif explorer), Ndidi Dike (Painter/lnstallation and found objects sculptor), Uche Edochie (Painter/Linear and geometric human morphology explorer), Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo Edochie (Painter/Installation explorer), Chris Echeta (Ceramist/Myth and legend content explorer in sculptor ceramics), Ikechukwu ThankGod Igwenagu (Graphic artist/Portrait painter) and Nicholas Anozie (Textile designer/screen print maker and folk motif maker). Guided interviews were combined with photographic records of the artists’ works as instruments for information collection. Information were analysed thematically based on information in the demographic profiles of the artists preceding the picture plates. Findings showed that the entrepreneurship focus of graduates of Fine and Applied Arts Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka includes: Painting, Ceramics, Art and Design, Sculpture as well as Textile and Fashion; all geared somewhat, towards contemporary installation art. The study also found that that the challenges encountered by the artists under study include poor patronage, insufficient local raw materials, multiple taxations and lack of credit facilities. Finally, it was found that interventions are required to make the art graduate ply their trade and contribute their share to the economic development of Nigeria. The researcher recommends, among other things, that government at all levels, should improve the entrepreneurial environment in Nigeria.