By Nsan Neji
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – An erudite scholar of Theatre and Media Scenography at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Esekong Andrew-Essien has urged the Federal Government to harness the power of visual and performing arts to advance development communication, boost economic growth, and promote social transformation.
Speaking while delivering UNICAL’s 143rd Inaugural Lecture at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre, Essien said that building capacity in the arts is essential to producing messages that can influence behaviour and inspire meaningful change.
He observed that art has often been wrongly regarded as mere decoration, pointing out that it brings people together through festivals, carnivals, theatre, and exhibitions, and that these platforms can be used to educate and mobilise communities.
Presenting a lecture titled Creative Convergence: Leveraging the Intersections of Visual and Performing Arts for Development Communication and Social Change, the professor unveiled a new framework, the Compacted Multi-Media Model (CM3), designed to integrate visual, performative, and electronic media for more effective communication.
Essien stressed that developing skilled manpower in the arts requires more than technical training. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of curricula, the provision of modern equipment, qualified instructors, and sustained sensitisation on art appreciation to enable students and professionals to craft messages that resonate with a wide range of audiences.
He also highlighted the importance of a human-centred approach, explaining that collaboration, feedback, and sensitivity to audience needs are crucial in creating impactful visual and performative content.
“Art transcends language and culture,” he said, adding, “It is a tool that can remove barriers, communicate ideas clearly, and inspire people to act.”
Beyond its communicative value, Essien described the arts as an engine of economic growth, citing their role in tourism, job creation, and the development of creative industries locally and internationally.
He voiced concern over a recent directive by the National Universities Commission transferring Fine and Applied Arts departments from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, describing the move as harmful to the strength of the humanities and calling for its reversal.
In her remarks, delivered by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Tony Eyang, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Florence Obi commended Essien for presenting an insightful and thought-provoking lecture.
The ceremony attracted academics, students, and other stakeholders who applauded the call to reposition art as a key instrument for national development.
Essien is also an accomplished artist and float designer for Carnival Calabar. He has won 12 out of 17 float design competitions for the Passion 4 Carnival Band, and in 2021, the Cross River State Carnival Commission honoured him for his contributions to the growth of the event.
