The grand finale of the Enchanting Plateau Exhibition 2025 brought together artists, cultural leaders, government officials, and creative industry stakeholders to celebrate a groundbreaking year for Plateau State’s artistic community. The week-long exhibition, held at Odilins Event Center, showcased exceptional talent across visual arts and reinforced the state’s growing influence in Nigeria’s cultural landscape.
Jury Leader Dr. Jacob Enemona Onoja praised the exhibition as the first of its kind in Plateau State, applauding its structure and the impressive quality of entries. He urged artists to refine their finishing, scale, and overall artistic depth as they prepare for future competitions. Dr. Onoja outlined key evaluation criteria, artistic ingenuity, relevance to the theme “One,” technical proficiency, artist statements, and finishing, explaining that multiple assessment rounds informed jury decisions across painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, textiles, and photography. He encouraged more creatives to enter next year, noting that the ₦500,000 prize per category should inspire higher artistic excellence.
Commissioner for Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality, Cornelius Doeyok, described the exhibition as a landmark cultural achievement. Representing the government of Governor Caleb Mutfwang, he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transforming artistic talent into economic value, “talent into cash.” Doeyok expressed amazement at the artworks displayed, saying they rival pieces found in global art hubs like Paris, Morocco, and the U.S. He stressed that Plateau possesses a cultural heritage “beyond measure” and argued that such events reclaim the state’s identity from global distractions. He promised a bigger and better edition next year, emphasizing the need to project Plateau’s creative excellence beyond its borders.
Director General of the Plateau State Council for Arts and Culture, Dr. Ephraim Dankyes, commended convener David Thomas for conceiving the Enchanting Plateau initiative. He highlighted its role in bridging gaps in artistic interconnectedness and praised Dr. Knoepke’s longstanding exhibition efforts. Dankyes said the event celebrates unity, creativity, and the rediscovery of long-hidden talents. He expressed confidence that future editions will attract wider national participation and further elevate Plateau’s cultural identity.
Virtual art competition winner Vikala Sati shared her joy at emerging first in her category. She thanked organizers for creating a platform that uplifts young creatives and explained that her winning artwork, Plateau Convergence, symbolizes unity among Plateau’s diverse tribes. By merging cultural symbols and landmarks into a single composition, she illustrated the exhibition’s theme of oneness and the beauty that emerges when people coexist peacefully.
Convener David Thomas delivered heartfelt closing remarks, expressing gratitude to dignitaries, government partners, and artists for their support. He emphasized that the vision of Enchanting Plateau is to ensure creatives are seen, heard, and appreciated without leaving the state. Thomas celebrated the progress made within just one year and reaffirmed that the coming editions, especially 2026, will be bigger, bolder, and more globally oriented. He thanked Governor Mutfwang for his unwavering support, affirming that “the world is waiting for Plateau’s talent.”
The Enchanting Plateau Exhibition 2025 concluded as a powerful testament to the state’s cultural richness, artistic excellence, and collective determination to build a thriving creative economy. With resounding endorsements from government officials, cultural leaders, and the artists themselves, the event set a new benchmark for artistic expression in Plateau State. It not only celebrated unity and creativity but also positioned the state for greater national and global recognition. As preparations for the 2026 edition begin immediately, stakeholders remain optimistic that the next chapter will be bigger, more inclusive, and even more impactful, propelling Plateau’s creatives onto the world stage.
