Creative Youth Community Development Initiative – Solution 17, a leading organisation on climate solutions has further extended partnership with the Lagos State Government, the New York University Abu Dhabi, the Nigeria Bottling Company, and the PremiumTrust Bank to profer solutions to rising climate crisis locally and globally.
The partnership would inform the launch of Artnovation – “Tech Meets ART For Climate Change”, a project which commenced on August 12 receiving 12 Innovative Housemates on Friday, September 8, 2023, “to Hack For the Climate towards COP28.”
The Artnovation Housemates of Innovators, Technologists, Artists, Entrepreneurs, Poets, Communicators and Storytellers are expected to cocreate 17 climate solutions, 17 Art for Climate, and generate massive awareness at a global scale.
As the world counts down to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), the Innovators are harnessing their collective expertise at the Innovation Hub to develop 17 innovative climate solutions, each of which will be transformed into thought-provoking Artworks on 17 Canvases to promote and spur climate awareness worldwide.
The projects that tackle climate change issues using the lens of the COP28 cross-cutting themes (Technology and Innovations, Inclusion, Frontline Communities and Finance) aim to foster collaboration between government, private sector, academics, international organisations, youth groups and artists.
The first set of the artworks was created during a live painting marathon held on Wednesday September 13, 2023, at the Johnson Jakande Tinubu (JJT) Park, at Alausa Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.
The event saw the conversion of the 17 climate startups and social enterprises birthed at the hub into awe-inspiring Art for Climate Change.
While nine of the paintings were created live at JJT Park in Lagos, the remaining pieces will be created at the New York University in Abu Dhabi by October 2023.
The final exhibition in the United Arab Emirates will feature 17 paintings (representing 17 Sustainable Development Goals) which depict COP28 Thematic Areas.
The Chief Executive Officer of CYCDI-Solution17, Foluke Michael disclosed on Wednesday that the creative minds behind the transformative artworks graduated from the School of Literature Nobel Prize Winner, Prof. Wole Soyinka (Arts Professor of Theater, NYU Abu Dhabi) via The Vision of the Child (VoTC) between 2012 and 2019.
“They joined the VoTC Programme between the ages of 8 and 12 years. The project was founded in 2011 in partnership with the Lagos State Government to amplify the voice of Children and Youth whilst driving change by creating solutions to community problems, including climate change.
“The Tech team joined Solution17 for Climate Action in their respective universities between 2018 and 2023”, VoTC and Solution17 nurture, train, and empower young children with creative and leadership skills, fostering networking and the development of various projects for nation-building.
“The Artnovators led by the Directors of Solution17 are Anjola Olanrewaju, Victory Ashaka, Michael Tobi, and Oluchi Nwaokorie (Artists) and Haoma Worgwu, Samuel Oyefusi, Peace Bello, Grace James, Fisayo Adeyemi and Princess Marinay (Technologists and Communicators),” Foluke added.
“Some of the notable startups already emerging from the hub include Ecoventures by Green Marketplace, which houses innovative ventures such as GreenQuest by AgroHusk Wares Limited, Chemotronix by Chemotronic Limited, Greena by Alttene Ventures Limited, ClmAStartup by Artovation, and other creative enterprises committed to social impact and profit,” she added.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, PremiumTrust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim (CON), reaffirmed the bank’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Green Startups and Climate Art towards COP28 and beyond.
“Renowned for its dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the bank is excited to host the innovation hub and contribute to the climate change dialogue through the influential medium of Art and entrepreneurship development,” he said.
The live painting event garnered the attendance of Lagos State Government officials and key Artnovation partners from PremiumTrust Bank and Nigeria Bottling Company.
Lagos Youth Ambassador, Amb. Victory Ashaka, said the projects in view were rich in focus for social and environmental impact fusing art with creative innovations.
According to Foluke Michael, nine of the intended solutions would be completed in Lagos, mentioning the “journey would be incomplete without special mention of Lagos.”
