Access Holdings, Coronation Group Celebrate Enduring Legacy of Nigerian Modernism

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Access Holdings Plc and Coro­nation Group hosted a private reception at Tate Modern, London, to celebrate the en­during legacy of Nigerian Modernism, one of the most significant presentations of African art in the gallery’s re­cent programme.

The Nigerian Modernism exhibition, in partnership with Tate Modern from Oc­tober 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, brought together nearly 300 works by more than 50 art­ists spanning five decades of Nigerian artistic production. Through painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and works on paper, it traced the evolu­tion of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through …-independence era, offer­ing fresh perspectives on the political, social, and cultural forces that shaped modern African expression.

During its run, the exhi­bition attracted more than 180,000 visitors, while its reach extended far beyond the gallery through interna­tional media coverage, digi­tal engagement, educational programming, and scholarly discourse that connected hun­dreds of millions of people worldwide with the story of Nigerian modern art.

Beyond its critical acclaim, Nigerian Modernism succeed­ed in democratising access to African art, creating oppor­tunities for young people and members of the African dias­pora to engage directly with African creativity, history and artistic expression at one of the world’s leading cultural institutions

The evening convened lead­ing figures from business, cul­ture, diplomacy, academia and the arts in recognition of the exhibition’s international im­pact and cultural significance

In his remarks, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Cor­onation Group, reflected on what he described as one of the exhibition’s most endur­ing achievements: its impact on young people.

“One of the aspects of this exhibition that stands out most for me is the op­portunity we created for nearly 2,800 students, many of them of African heritage, to experience Tate Modern. While their encounters with the artworks could not be formally documented, the feedback we received spoke volumes. For many of these young people, the exhibition inspired a deeper apprecia­tion of their heritage, rein­forcing their sense of identi­ty and pride in their African roots.”

Aig-Imoukhuede further underscored the exhibition’s broader diplomatic impor­tance.

“I have long believed that great nations are built at the intersection of financial, knowledge and cultural capi­tal. Of these, cultural capital is often the force that brings ev­erything else together. We saw a powerful example of that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose to include a private tour of Nigerian Mod­ernism during his historic visit to London, alongside the thousands of Nigerians in the diaspora who came out to wel­come him. It was a remarkable moment that demonstrated the unique role culture can play in strengthening nation­al identity, global engagement and diplomacy.”

Karin Hinsbo, Interim Di­rector of Tate Modern, em­phasised the significance of the exhibition and the strength of the partnership behind it.

“Nigerian Modernism captivated hundreds of thou­sands of visitors. It was a story that had never been told in a UK gallery, an international network of 50 artists across 50 years, combining African and European traditions to create a powerful artistic legacy through 250 glorious works made up of painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and works on paper. None of this would have been possible without the partnership, gen­erosity, and commitment of Access Holdings and Corona­tion Group.”

The exhibition was widely recognised for challenging es­tablished art historical narra­tives by positioning Nigerian artists firmly within the glob­al story of twentieth-century modernism. It also delivered extensive public program­ming, including lectures, tours and educational initiatives de­signed to deepen engagement with African art and identity.

A defining highlight of the exhibition was the inclusion of seven historic wooden sculptures by Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London and now part of the Access Holdings Art Collec­tion, underscoring the impor­tance of cultural stewardship and cross-institutional collab­oration.

Attendees reflected on the exhibition’s enduring leg­acy as a cultural milestone that expanded scholarship on African modernism, strengthened internation­al partnerships and intro­duced Nigerian art to new global audiences. Although the exhibition has conclud­ed, its influence continues to shape conversations around African creativity, heritage, modern identity and cultural diplomacy, reinforcing its po­sition as a landmark moment in contemporary museum practice.