LASUSTECH Celebrates World Art Day 2026 with Cultural and Tech-Focused Activities
Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) in Ikorodu marked World Art Day 2026 with a vibrant open house event that brought together students, lecturers, alumni, and guests to promote creativity, culture, and innovation. The celebration, organized by the Department of Art and Industrial Design under the College of Environmental Design and Technology, was held at the college foyer under the theme A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community Through Art.
Event Activities and Departmental Highlights
The event featured a diverse range of activities designed to engage participants and showcase artistic talent. These included:
- Student art competitions for 100 and 200 Level students
- Live drawing sessions and portrait sketches by 400 Level students
- Landscape painting demonstrations
- Cultural performances highlighting traditional arts
- Sports activities to foster community spirit
- Career talks focusing on opportunities in creative industries
Mr. Olusegun Gabriel Savage, the acting Head of Department of Art and Industrial Design, emphasized the essential role of art in human development during his address. He noted that art has evolved beyond mere decoration to play critical roles in various sectors, including:
- Automobile manufacturing through design innovation
- Business promotion through creative marketing
- Healthcare through healing spaces and emotional wellness applications
Savage explained that the celebration aimed to provide a relaxing environment where participants could step away from daily stress and express themselves through enjoyable activities. He also announced the formal inauguration of the department's cultural troupe, which had been active since the previous year, and thanked university management, staff, students, and organizers for their support in making the event successful.
Technology and African Heritage Preservation
The keynote address was delivered by Aisha Adamu Augie, Director-General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC). Speaking on the topic Preserving African Art and Culture in the Age of Technology, she urged young creatives to leverage technology as a tool for safeguarding African identity and heritage.
Augie highlighted that African heritage has faced numerous threats over the years, including:
- Environmental damage affecting cultural sites
- Conflict leading to displacement of artefacts
- Urbanization impacting traditional practices
- Loss of intangible heritage like oral histories
She emphasized that technology offers innovative solutions for preserving both physical and intangible heritage. Specific technological applications discussed included:
- Virtual Reality: Allowing students to explore ancient African kingdoms and cultural events remotely
- Digital Reconstruction: Recreating historic landmarks that may have been damaged or lost
- Artificial Intelligence: Preserving endangered African languages, decoding traditional symbols, and ensuring African stories are told through African voices
- Blockchain Technology: Protecting artists' ownership rights and verifying the authenticity of modern African artworks
Augie also noted the powerful role of social media in cultural preservation, mentioning how platforms have given global visibility to festivals such as Ojude Oba, Durbar, New Yam Festival, Lisabi Festival, and the Argungu Fishing Festival. She encouraged LASUSTECH students to see themselves as gardeners of the digital era, using design and innovation to preserve African identity for future generations.
The World Art Day celebration at LASUSTECH successfully blended traditional artistic expression with forward-looking discussions about technology's role in cultural preservation, creating a meaningful dialogue about the future of African arts and heritage.
