Enchanting Plateau Exhibition 2025 Closes with Powerful Calls for Unity, Creativity, and Global Expansion
The Enchanting Plateau Exhibition 2025 came to a grand close with resounding calls for unity, creativity, and global visibility as artists, cultural leaders, government officials, and creative industry stakeholders gathered to celebrate a landmark moment for Plateau State’s art community. The week-long exhibition, hosted at the Odilins Event Center, showcased exceptional talents across diverse visual art forms, reaffirming Plateau’s rising influence in Nigeria’s cultural and creative landscape.
Leading the jury panel, Dr. Jacob Enemona Onoja described the exhibition as the first of its kind in Plateau State, commending its professionalism, structure, and the impressive quality of entries. He urged participating artists to improve finishing, scale, and overall artistic depth as they prepare for future competitions. According to him, works were assessed based on artistic ingenuity, relevance to the theme “One,” technical proficiency, artist statements, and finishing, with multiple jury rounds conducted across categories including painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, textiles, and photography. He further encouraged wider participation next year, noting that the ₦500,000 prize per category should push artists toward higher levels of excellence.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality, Cornelius Doeyok, described the exhibition as a cultural milestone for Plateau State. Representing Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to turning creative talent into economic value, stressing the policy direction of converting “talent into cash.” He expressed amazement at the quality of artworks on display, comparing them favorably with those seen in global art hubs such as Paris, Morocco, and the United States. Doeyok noted that Plateau’s cultural heritage is “beyond measure” and said events like Enchanting Plateau are reclaiming the state’s identity on the global stage. He assured stakeholders of a bigger and more expansive edition in 2026.
Also speaking, Director General of the Plateau State Council for Arts and Culture, Dr. Ephraim Dankyes, applauded the convener, David Thomas, for birthing the Enchanting Plateau vision. He highlighted the exhibition’s role in fostering artistic interconnectedness and praised Dr. Knoepke for his long-standing contributions to art exhibitions in the state. Dankyes described the festival as a celebration of unity, creativity, and the rediscovery of long-hidden talents, expressing confidence that future editions will attract broader national participation and further strengthen Plateau’s cultural identity.
Winner of the virtual art competition, Vikala Sati, expressed gratitude for emerging first in her category. She praised the organizers for creating a platform that empowers young creatives and explained that her winning artwork, “Plateau Convergence,” represents unity among the state’s diverse tribes. By blending cultural symbols and landmarks into one composition, she illustrated the beauty of peaceful coexistence in line with the exhibition’s theme of oneness.
In his closing remarks, Convener David Thomas expressed deep appreciation to dignitaries, government partners, sponsors, and participating artists for their unwavering support. He reiterated that the vision of Enchanting Plateau is to ensure that creatives are seen, heard, and celebrated without the need to leave the state. Thomas described the achievements recorded within one year as remarkable and reaffirmed that future editions, especially 2026, will be bigger, bolder, and more globally focused. He also thanked Governor Mutfwang for his consistent backing, declaring that “the world is waiting for Plateau’s talent.”
The Enchanting Plateau Exhibition 2025 ended as a powerful testament to Plateau State’s cultural richness, artistic excellence, and collective drive to build a sustainable creative economy. With strong endorsements from government officials, cultural leaders, and artists, the event has set a new benchmark for artistic expression in the state. Beyond celebrating unity and creativity, it has positioned Plateau for greater national and global recognition. As preparations for the 2026 edition begin immediately, stakeholders remain optimistic that the next chapter will be larger, more inclusive, and even more impactful in projecting Plateau’s creatives to the world stage
