The Proprietor and Director of Higher Everyday British School, Agbor, Delta State, Dr. Raymond Imafidon, has commended the Johnson Community Support Initiative (JCSI) and the management of The Leap Bradford CIC, United Kingdom, for strengthening the Nigeria/UK arts and culture relations through its maiden Arts, Culture and Heritage (ACH) Creatives Workshop 2025.
Speaking at the end of the secondary school’s Cultural Day, held in Agbor, Dr. Imafidon said, “We feel elated, and we truly appreciate JCSI for sponsoring the ACH Creatives Workshop, using Higher Everyday British School as its pioneer partner secondary school in Nigeria.
“We feel elated that our school was chosen as the pioneer for this amazing programme, “ he said. “We also appreciate the role of The Leap Bradford CIC and its partners (Creative People and Places, Arts Council England, and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council) for supporting the workshop.
He said the workshop is designed to inspire secondary school students across Nigeria to embrace indigenous arts and culture sector not only for entertainment but also as a credible platform for building successful careers.
He said, “We see this initiative by JCSI and all its partners as a powerful and clear signal for greater collaboration in the arts and culture sector between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
“This is a befitting development, considering the shared history of both countries.”
Dr. Imafidon explained, “At the ACH Creatives Workshop held for our senior secondary students this past week, our eyes were opened to see the immense opportunities that largely lie below as far as the Nigerian arts and culture sector being a credible and valuable employment ground for our people is concerned.”
He said the keynote speaker, Pastor Mike Okoh, a seasoned and respected arts and culture professional and a university art lecturer, inspired the youngsters on how they can set out to create artworks and crafts not only for Nigerians and Africans but for the whole of humanity.
“It was a powerful call to action for our school, and we look forward to establishing the proposed ACH Creatives Club as our school resumes for the 3rd term.
The school proprietor said as the pioneer school for this JCSI-sponsored ACH Creatives programme, “we now see ourselves as an ambassador of this worthy initiative amongst other schools in Agbor, Delta State, and Nigeria.”
In his goodwill message, presented virtually during the workshop, the Executive/Creative Director of JCSI, Mr. Akinwale Johnson Ogundipe, explained the goal of the workshop which he said is to create awareness among Nigerian youths, helping them to see arts and culture in a different light.
According to him, “We want them to see that they can pursue a successful and fulfilling career in the arts, culture and heritage (ACH) sector, which is now referred to in Nigeria and abroad as the creative industry.
“As part of this programme, we encourage each partner school, starting with Higher Everyday British School Agbor, to set up its own students-led and students-managed ACH Creatives Club.”
A statement signed by theCountry Event Partner, Johnson Community Support Initiative (JCSI) ACH Creatives Programme, Mr. Frederick Apeji, said the primary objectives of the JCSI ACH Creatives Programme are to promote the appreciation of Nigerian arts, culture, and heritage among senior secondary school students; to create a platform for building artistic expression and cultural exchange; and to encourage the formation of Arts, Culture, and Heritage (ACH) Creatives clubs in senior secondary school throughout Nigeria for sustainable engagement.
With the successful launch of the ACH Creatives Program at Higher Everyday British School Agbor in 2025, JCSI plans to gradually expand it to other secondary schools across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria in the years ahead. In line with this long-term vision, the NGO seeks the active involvement and participation of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, the National Council of Arts and Culture, and other appropriate stakeholders across the federation.