Art x Adẹ

I have been wondering why Nigerian politicians, including some of the most notoriously corrupt among them, never seem to have any difficulty placing their hands on the Bible or the Quran when taking their oaths of office. They do so with straight faces, solemn expressions and all the seriousness of people about to enter into a sacred covenant with their Creator. Yet, barely have they settled into office than some of them begin to demonstrate a remarkable kleptomaniac instinct for breaking every promise they made before God and the Nigerian citizens. I have therefore arrived at a rather mischievous conclusion:  Perhaps, just perhaps, they do not take these foreign religions seriously enough! Consequently therefore, my modest suggestiom is that we should return to our traditional religious heritage when administering oaths of public office. Let's amend the constitutional framework that makes it compulsory for our politicians to hold an instrument associated with thunder a...

This chart is one of 40 representing voluntary organisations across local government areas in England and Wales. It has been redacted to protect the identity of the particular local government authority to which it relates. A story about democracy, equality and the true meaning of service to humanity Between 2012 and 2015, I volunteered as a part-time researcher for Parity, a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom committed to promoting equal rights for men and women. During my research, I came across figures suggesting a striking disparity in local government funding for voluntary organisations serving their communities. I recall that the figures showed a significant difference between organisations run by men and those run by women. I no longer remember precisely how the organisation interpreted or used the findings, but they prompted me to reflect on a different possibility. Perhaps fewer men were seeking help, even when some desperately needed it. Perhaps...

This is my fourth painting inspired by photographs shared by my daughter, Tayo, following her recent visit to Iceland. Each photograph offers me a new opportunity to explore the beauty of nature through my own eyes and imagination. With every brushstroke, I seek not merely to reproduce what I see, but to capture the atmosphere, the contrasts, and the emotions the landscape evokes in me. The interplay of ice and earth, light and shadow, cold blues and warm golden tones makes this scene particularly fascinating. Another photograph, another interpretation, and another step in my continuing septuagenarian journey of discovery through art. 🎨 Enjoy!

President Bola Tinubu’s reported decision not to attend every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 presidential election, leaving APC governors and local government chairmen to mobilise voters at the grassroots, raises some important questions for me. Why now? Why should the responsibility of making a case for his re-election be left largely to party officials across the country? I agree that the President has enormous governmental responsibilities and that campaigning should not necessarily bring governance to a standstill. Nor do I suggest that he must personally attend every rally. However, there is a fundamental difference between delegating campaign mobilisation and delegating accountability. The latter would be tantamount to outsourcing personal responsibility. Ultimately, it is President Tinubu who is seeking another four-year mandate. It is therefore his responsibility to give Nigerians a convincing account of his stewardship during his first term, explain the successes and shortco...

I am delighted to share an AI-generated transcript of an article I originally wrote in 1983, more than four decades ago, and which was published in the National Concord newspaper. Looking back, this article brings back memories of an important period in my writing journey and of the privilege of contributing to a newspaper owned by the late Chief MKO Abiola (of blessed memory), with the late Dele Giwa as its Editor-in-Chief. Both men left indelible marks on Nigerian journalism and public life, and I remember them with deep respect and fondness. Here, I revisit my original work, preserving its place in history while making it accessible to a new generation of readers. Time to Pull Out of OPEC By Ade Medupin National Concord, Nigeria — 1983 The need for Nigeria to review its membership of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has been generating a lot of debate. Only recently, Senator David Dafinone came out very strongly against our continued membership of...

There comes a time in life when we begin to understand that the true measure of our existence is not how far we have travelled, how much we have acquired, or how loudly the world has applauded our achievements. Rather, it is how much wisdom we have gathered along the way, how much more we still have to learn, how much love we have given and still have to give, how many lives we have touched and are yet to touch, and how much good we have done and still have the opportunity to do. Life is a remarkable teacher. It teaches us through triumphs and disappointments, through the doors that open and those that remain firmly shut, through the people who walk beside us and those whose departure leaves lessons that time alone can explain. With the passing of years comes a deeper understanding that not every battle deserves our energy, not every disagreement requires our response, and not every success needs an audience.  Sometimes, the greatest expression of strength is restraint;...