Art education should be integrated into Enugu State’s Smart Green Schools through the establishment of dedicated studios, artist Chidi Igbokwe has said, advocating a shift from STEM to STEAM learning.
ENUGU — Renowned artist and founder of the Dosky Art Quest Foundation, Mr Chidi Igbokwe, has called on the Enugu State Government to establish Art Studios in its Smart Green Schools to strengthen creativity and practical learning among pupils.
Igbokwe made the appeal on Monday during the Creative Legends Holiday Camp organised by his foundation in Enugu. The camp, which is being held at the Magic Garden from July 27 to August 31, is designed to provide creative learning experiences for children between the ages of eight and 18.
Speaking at the event, Igbokwe said one of the programme’s key objectives is to teach children how to transform waste materials into useful and marketable products.
“When people see waste, we see productivity,” he said. He explained that the foundation sources recyclable materials from dumpsites managed by the Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) and neighbourhood refuse points.
According to him, discarded plastics, wood, cartons and other waste materials are creatively transformed into products such as flower vases, wall clocks, necklaces, waste bins and lampshades.
Igbokwe argued that creative and artistic thinking is essential for preparing children for the future and should complement science and technology education.
He noted that while Enugu’s Smart Green Schools are equipped with science and technology laboratories, they currently lack dedicated art studios.
“We have Science and Technology Laboratories in Smart Schools but no Art studios. This should be added to complement both,” he said. The Fine Arts graduate maintained that introducing art studios would help pupils develop practical, creative and problem-solving skills from an early stage of their education.
Igbokwe also urged education stakeholders to adopt the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) model instead of the traditional STEM framework.
According to him, integrating the arts into science and technology education would produce more innovative and well-rounded learners.
“So STEM now becomes STEAM with Arts.”
The artist disclosed that the Dosky Art Quest Foundation has visited more than 40 schools across Enugu State, including several rural communities, introducing students to waste-to-wealth initiatives and creative skills development.
He said many young people had already benefited from the programme and called on both the government and the private sector to support and expand the initiative.
According to Igbokwe, the proposal aligns with growing advocacy within arts and humanities circles for greater recognition of creative education as a vital component of national development.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
