By Virtuous Ikeoluwa
Art according to John Lubbock, is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colours flowers, so does art colour life.
A vibrant and well determined young boy, Mr. Obafemi Oni, popularly known as Ajapa, who embarked on 30 days marathon painting 22 days ago in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State with the hope of breaking the Guinness Book of Records, has said the greatest honour that anyone could do to him at the moment is for the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji to come and visit him in Asha Botanical Garden at Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, where he’s having a lot of painting jobs done to his credit including that of Governor Oyebanji himself.
Obafemi Oni, stated this in Ado-Ekiti the State capital on Tuesday when visited by our correspondent at the garden as he is currently undergoing 30 days marathon painting.
The boy who took painting as his primary job two years ago, explained that painting has always been part of him, and appealed to the State government to give youths in the State necessary encouragement and support needed for them to make Ekiti proud among the states of the federation.
He pointed out that youths are ready to work, especially if they are given the chance, saying he ventured into painting for the purpose of creating an awareness in the art world.
Stressing further, Ajapa as he’s popularly known, said art is not something that people really take serious, but stated that by the time people begin to see the kind of paintings coming out of Asha Garden, that they would know that they are not just staying in the beautiful garden which has all the natural attributes of the first garden on earth for fun, but working there to add values to humanity and the society. He added that the garden is basically for painting.
Speaking on the importance of painting job, Oni who is trying to change the narrative of some people who still believe in white-collar jobs which seems to be no longer there, maintained that there are lots to do in painting than mere drawing which according to him includes story telling apart from other stress going into it.
Charging the youths in general, Oni said once they have a goal and a strong mindset, that they can always achieve it no matter the challenges they might be having.
“So far you have a positive thinking and ready to achieve the goal. Whatever trade you are doing and no matter how little, you should always try invest and explore it by broadening its branches”. Said he.
He therefore called on the youths to stand up and do something very important instead of gallivanting around.
Obafemi Oni a.k a Ajapa. is an indigene of Osun State but was born and raised in Ekiti State, Nigeria. He was born into the family of late Philip Ogundare Oni, the immediate past Oniwoye of Iwoye – Ijesha Kingdom in Ijebu-Jesha, Osun State. He lives most of his life in Ekiti State and attended Ekiti State University ( EKSU) where he studied English and Literary Studies.