Paving the Paths for Future Artists

Yinka Olatunbosun

A breezy pedestrian bridge led into the Department of Fine Arts at Mountain Top University, Ogun state, a first of its kind at a private university. In 2019, the University established the department on the need to provide structured, up-to-date learning for aspiring artists. Today, the department breathes a new life under the watch of its current acting Head of Department, Dr. Kehinde Hassan Shobukola who joined the school on August 1, 2022.
Back then, enrollment was little but promising. The department had enjoyed two academic sessions before his arrival so he saw first-hand the gaps that needed to be filled to enhance the learning experience.

“I spearheaded the curriculum,” he revealed during the chat. “The department was established to fulfill the wish and directive of the wife of the Chancellor, Dr. Folashade Olukoya.”
Olukoya has a soft spot for art being a trained artist too. Upon the establishment of the department, she extended her hand of support.

“When I came in, I learnt she had offered to give full scholarship to the first 25 students for the four years that they are to spend here. Two started in year one joined by direct entry and joined by two. Two students came from Music and Mass Communications through internal transfer.”

Across the lake sits a new building for the Fine Arts department which is expected to house the equipment for sculpture and fabric making. The goal is to equip the students for the future.
“To set up this kind of department, you need materials and facilities. That may be discouraging school management to set up,” Shobukola explained while reflecting on the reluctance of management at other private universities in including Fine Arts as a course of study.

While critically discussing the curriculum, Shobukola acknowledged the need for continuing learning and updating knowledge.
“Our performance as a department would be assessed based on the outcome of the curriculum. The curriculum is dynamic. We have a window of opportunity to introduce some courses that were not there. We introduced five courses. Artificial Intelligence (AI) for visual art is one of the courses. There is no organization that does not need an artist either as an illustrator, designer, all professions patronise artists to do one thing or another. Artists are not supposed to be job seekers but job creators. We prepare them so they can fit into any organisation. Even from school here, our students keep making money. The exhibition offers them a promise for their career so we usually take them out to shows.”

On the backbone of years of practice at a printing press, Shobukola brings fresh thinking into the graphics unit of the department, getting students involved in commissioned projects while instilling work ethics and discipline in their hearts.
“I take them out to build their network early. They meet gallery owners and art collectors.”
For the first two years, the students focus on the general courses in the arts before they later specialize in their last two years at the department.
“Many of them are making money from digital content. They are experimentative. My 17-year old just gave me money to get an international passport. He has been selling his works. They are better prepared for the larger society and we keep telling them the jobs are not there. You can create jobs for yourself,” he said.