On Saturday, November 22, 2025, GAIA Africa hosted an exclusive evening celebrating women who are pivotal to Nigeria’s Flourishing art collection culture.
The event, held in partnership with the Society for Art Collection, showcased key figures dedicated to acquiring, preserving, and honoring African art.
Speakers highlighted the evolving role of women in this space, with leaders like Mrs. Eyamba Dafinone stressing the importance of art collections as valuable assets.
The event also featured a keynote address by renowned art collector Mrs Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, founder of SMO Contemporary Art. She spoke passionately about the evolution of art collection in Nigeria and the growing influence of women in the field.
Mrs Mbanefo Obiago’s speech was followed by a panel discussion featuring three leading female collectors: Ugoma Ebilah, Director of BLOOM Art Gallery; philanthropist and business leader Ngozi Edozien; and culture advocate Mrs. Eyamba Dafinone. The session, moderated by Wunika Mukan, explored questions such as: Do women collect differently from men? How does one handle inherited artworks? Can art improve the quality of life? and How can young collectors begin strategically?
The panel tackled practical matters, advising emerging collectors to plan, save, and buy with prudence regardless of budget constraints.
A significant concern discussed was the need for proper insurance policies for artworks—a sector currently underserved by existing insurance companies.
During the event, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, urged collective action to push insurers toward better services tailored for art collectors.
The night also honored Nigeria’s rich art heritage through reflections by veteran collector Prof. Ebun Clark, who reminisced about early collectors—mostly women—and the shift in societal attitudes towards art’s value.
“Most collectors in the early 60s were women because men were not really interested,” she revealed.
She recalled how art was underappreciated in the past, “People told us to buy land instead of paintings. Robbers would steal everything in your house except the artwork on the wall. Today, art has value.”
She concluded with a promise: “Before I go, I will like the public to see what I have before they go back into private collection.”
With this gathering, GAIA Africa not only celebrated achievements but also highlighted a roadmap for cultivating Nigeria’s art ecosystem, with women as its vibrant backbone.
