By Edem Ekpo
A renowned scholar of Theatre and Media Scenography at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Esekong Andrew Essien has called on the Federal Government to fully embrace visual and performing arts as tools for development communication, economic growth, and social transformation.
Delivering UNICAL’s 143rd Inaugural Lecture at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre, Andrew Essien said strengthening capacity in the arts is vital to producing messages that can influence behaviour and inspire lasting change.
He lamented that art has too often been dismissed as mere decoration, noting instead that it unites people through festivals, carnivals, theatre, and exhibitions, channels that can be harnessed for education and social impact.
Speaking on the topic 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), which integrates visual, performative, and electronic media strategies to enhance communication outcomes.
Andrew Essien emphasised that building capacity in the arts requires more than technical skills. He urged curriculum reforms, better training facilities, modern equipment, and ongoing sensitisation on art appreciation to help students and practitioners craft messages that resonate with diverse audiences.
He also underscored the value of a human-centred approach, explaining that collaboration, feedback, and iteration are essential for creating impactful visual and performative content.
“Art transcends language and culture,” he said. “It is an instrument capable of breaking barriers, conveying ideas with power, and inspiring action.”
Beyond its communicative power, Andrew Essien identified the arts as a driver of tourism, job creation, and creative industries, both locally and internationally.
He, however, expressed concern over a recent directive by the National Universities Commission (NUC) moving departments of Fine and Applied Arts from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. He described the policy as detrimental to the humanities and urged its reversal.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Tony Eyang, who represented UNICAL’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi, praised Andrew Essien for delivering an “enlightened and thought-provoking” lecture.
The well-attended event drew academics, students, and stakeholders who applauded the call to position art as a strategic tool for national progress.
Andrew Essien is also a celebrated artist and Carnival Calabar float designer, with 12 wins in 17 years for the Passion 4 Carnival Band. In 2021, the Cross River State Carnival Commission honoured him for his outstanding contributions to the growth of Carnival Calabar.