On World Creativity and Innovation Day 2026, Abuja became a charged meeting point where imagination met intent, and ideas were treated as carefully engineered possibilities rather than fleeting sparks.

Words Ireho Aito | Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger! Photographs credit Leke Opaleye

Creativity, in its most powerful form, often thrives at the intersection of intention and imagination. On April 21, 2024, that intersection came alive in Abuja in an exhibition titled Power of Strategy, the exhibition unfolded as a carefully orchestrated dialogue between twenty contemporary Nigerian artists each bringing a distinct voice, yet collectively exploring the mechanics of thought, planning, and creative foresight. Under the curatorial direction of  Mufu Onifade PhD, the showcase moved beyond surface aesthetics, inviting viewers into a layered conversation about how strategy underpins both artistic production and societal evolution.

Set within the refined ambiance of The Pavilion, the exhibition space carried an air of quiet intensity. Works ranged from bold mixed-media explorations to contemplative pieces that interrogated identity, governance, and resilience. There was a sense, almost palpable, that each artwork had been conceived not just as expression, but as a deliberate act an intellectual positioning within Nigeria’s dynamic cultural landscape.

Presiding over the occasion, Hon. Taiwo Adeleke, Chairman Osun Tourism Board, Osun State, who was the Chairman of the event. Hon. Taiwo Adeleke, brought a ceremonial gravitas that underscored the event’s broader cultural significance. His presence signaled a recognition of the arts not merely as creative output, but as a vital contributor to tourism, national identity, and economic discourse.

What distinguished Power of Strategy was its refusal to separate creativity from calculation. Instead, it proposed that innovation itself is a strategic act that requires vision, discipline, and an acute awareness of context. In doing so, the exhibition aligned seamlessly with the ethos of World Creativity and Innovation Day, a global observance that champions the role of creative thinking in solving complex challenges.

iBAND Magazine, Celebrating Visual Arts from the Original.
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