Art for Counter-Radicalization: NGA Partners NCTC on Strategic Intervention Programme
The National Gallery of Art has entered into a partnership agreement with the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in its de-radicalisation campaign targeted at Nigerian youth in conflict-affected areas. The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit of the NGA Director-General, Ahmed Sodangi to the National Coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major-General Adamu Laka in Abuja recently.
Predicated on the on-going war against terrorism and radicalisation of vulnerable youth by extremist groups, the collaborative venture recognises the absolute necessity of mitigating the negative trend by means of non-kinetic programmes. With long-term results in view, it seeks to proffer tangible and realistic alternatives to the lure of violence and radical extremism to the teeming youth caught in an ideological crossfire as a result of poverty, trauma and the absence of positive socio-economic opportunities.
At its crux is the unique capacity of art to rehabilitate, inspire and unite. Through structured creative engagement, at-risk youth can be equipped not only with skills but with a renewed sense of identity, purpose and community. As such, the National Gallery of Art proposed a cultural intervention programme, leveraging Nigeria’s artistic legacy to counter terrorism, fight insecurity and build peace from the ground up,
According to the D-G: “The NGA’s presence in 25 states of the nation is the basis of our reach through which we liaise with the local populations. The proposal is pursuant to our mandate of promoting the appreciation of visual art and fostering creativity. We seek to contribute our quota by looking at non-kinetic ways of assisting counter terrorism when the President is so passionate about the creative economy sector. The non-kinetic approach has yielded a lot of gain and we want to discover how we can key into it.”
The proposed collaboration was lauded by the Coordinator, NCTC as a step in the right direction; in complete alignment with his Centre’s mandate and current focus. He further suggested the formation of a committee to fine-tune details and chart the path of future action via a comprehensive working document. Other senior management officials of the Centre were present at the occasion and spoke in commendation of the proposed partnership.
Amidst deliberations, the NGA delegation comprising of some senior management staff was treated to a cinematography of the Centre’s current efforts at mandate delivery by non-kinetic methods, buttressing the suitability of its proposal. The visit was concluded by the exchange of souvenir tokens by the D-G, NGA and the Coordinator, NCTC and a commemorative photoshoot.