By Vincent Obi
Akwa, May 24, 2024 – The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has honoured its former lecturer and Ghana’s most renowned artist, Emeritus Professor of Sculpture, El Anatsui, with the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa).
The honour was bestowed on the Ghanaian artist and art scholar at the weekend during the 2024 convocation ceremony of the institution.
Commenting on the reason for the award, Prof. Bennett Nwanguma, Chairman of the UNN Senate Ceremonials Committee, said El Anatsui was honoured in recognition of his “very many achievements in arts, especially Sculpture.
He noted that Prof. El Anatsui has taught a generation of art students and is widely recognised for his immense contributions towards the global respect now enjoyed for Africa’s contemporary art.
108Scoop recalls that El Anatsui’s work is in the permanent collections of more than 70 international museums, as well as in many private collections and galleries.
He has also won some of art’s most prestigious global prizes and awards, and his recent groundbreaking exhibition at the Tate Modern, London, was from October 2023 to April 2024.
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State.
It was founded in 1955 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was the Governor General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963, and later first President of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966.
