The Young Artists Art Hub (YAAH), in collaboration with Pneuma-City, on Friday in Ibadan, trained some youths on how to turn wastes to wealth, using discarded tyres.
The training was tagged “PneumArt Workshop’’.
The Chief Executive Officer of YAAH, Mrs Olaide Turner-Moyet, said at the event that it was to show young people opportunities in waste management.
”The training will show participants how to recycle discarded tyres into beautiful and functional pieces of art,” she said.
Turner-Moyet said that the training was aimed at raising awareness about sustainable practices, adding that the participants were being encouraged to be creative.
“The artists are here to demonstrate how everyday materials, such as tyres, can be transformed into striking pieces of art or useful objects.
“Part of the objective is to make the work of dealing with environmental pollution fun, intriguing and therapeutic.
“Our target participants are underprivileged members of the society as well as young and dynamic adults willing to contribute to positive change against environmental pollution.
“We believe our contribution will influence ecological and economical transformations.
“The outcome will bring entrepreneurial opportunities for people seeking new ways to generate revenue, create employment and keep our environments clean,” she said.
Quoting Albert Einstein, she said: “Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another.
“In other words, a tyre never dies; it changes from one form to another. It originally served as a wheel, it can eventually serve as a seat or planter,” she said.
Turner-Moyet said that invited specialists for the workshop were internationally recognised in their respective fields.
The Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Mrs Pamela Otuka, said that turning waste into wealth would be money-making.
Otuka promised that the museum would reach out to more people and sensitise them about the gains of the training while working in partnership with the organisers.
“We really thank the organisers for giving us this opportunity that would have cost us much out there,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer, Art and Culture Connexion, Ibadan, Prince Tunde Odunlade, said that the training was apt, as materials that would have been causing environmental hazards were being turned into wealth.
“How to do it is why we are here, the essence is for us to learn and be happy together.
“Let’s not keep the knowledge learnt here to ourselves alone, but go home and train others,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer, Waste Museum, Ibadan, Mrs Adejumoke Olowookere, said that the training could positively influence the destiny of the trainees.
“This is a life opportunity that youths must not toy with.
“The training is worth at least N500, 000 out there but here it is being done free,” she said.
An artist, Mr Kola Akintola, said that he had gone to many places outside Nigeria through works of art.
Akintola urged students and the youth to take art seriously.
He said that through art, a person could be self-employed and an employer of labour.