L-R: Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman, Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group; Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Co-Founder, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation; and Ben Okri, Nigerian-born British Artist and Poet, at the celebration of the Nigerian Modernism legacy at Tate Modern in London, United Kingdom…Wednesday
By Peace Udugba
Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group have celebrated the enduring legacy and global impact of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition with a private reception at the Tate Modern in London.
The reception, held on July 1, 2026, honoured what has been described as one of the most significant presentations of African art in the gallery’s recent history.
The Nigerian Modernism exhibition, held in partnership with Tate Modern from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, featured nearly 300 works by more than 50 artists, spanning five decades of Nigerian artistic production. Through paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics and works on paper, the exhibition traced the evolution of modern Nigerian art from the 1940s through the post-independence era, while highlighting the political, social and cultural forces that shaped modern African artistic expression.
During its seven-month run, the exhibition attracted more than 180,000 visitors. Its influence also extended beyond the gallery through international media coverage, digital engagement, educational programmes and scholarly discussions, reaching hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Beyond receiving critical acclaim, the exhibition was praised for making African art more accessible, particularly to young people and members of the African diaspora, providing opportunities to engage with African history, creativity and artistic heritage at one of the world’s leading cultural institutions.
The event brought together prominent figures from the business, diplomatic, academic, cultural and artistic communities to celebrate the exhibition’s international impact and cultural significance.
Speaking at the reception, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the exhibition’s impact on young people as one of its greatest achievements.
According to him, nearly 2,800 students, many of African heritage, were given the opportunity to visit Tate Modern through the initiative.
“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,” he said.
Aig-Imoukhuede also highlighted the exhibition’s contribution to cultural diplomacy, noting that it demonstrated the role culture can play in strengthening national identity and international engagement.
He cited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s private tour of the exhibition during his visit to London as an example of how cultural heritage can complement diplomacy and deepen connections with Nigerians in the diaspora.
Interim Director of Tate Modern, Karin Hinsbo, commended the exhibition’s success and acknowledged the support of Access Holdings and Coronation Group in making it possible.
She noted that Nigerian Modernism captivated hundreds of thousands of visitors by presenting, for the first time in a UK gallery, the story of an international network of Nigerian artists whose works blended African and European artistic traditions over five decades.
Hinsbo said the exhibition’s success reflected the strength of the partnership, generosity and commitment demonstrated by Access Holdings and Coronation Group.
The exhibition also received widespread recognition for challenging traditional art historical narratives by positioning Nigerian artists firmly within the global story of twentieth-century modernism.
It featured an extensive programme of public lectures, guided tours and educational initiatives aimed at promoting greater understanding of African art and identity.
One of the exhibition’s major highlights was the display of seven historic wooden sculptures by renowned Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror in London. The sculptures, now part of the Access Holdings Art Collection, underscored the importance of preserving cultural heritage through institutional collaboration.
Guests at the reception described the exhibition as a landmark cultural achievement that expanded scholarship on African modernism, strengthened international partnerships and introduced Nigerian art to wider global audiences.
Although the exhibition has ended, organisers said its legacy continues to influence conversations on African creativity, heritage, modern identity and cultural diplomacy, cementing its place as a defining moment in contemporary museum practice.
