Reports reaching the News Corner Nigeria desk indicate that the authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have allegedly ordered the removal of an undergraduate student’s artwork, which boldly depicted the current state of Nigeria’s judiciary system.
This revelation came to light earlier today when a News Corner Nigeria team visited the Ekenwan campus of the university. Upon arrival, it was observed that the controversial sculpture was no longer on display. The disappearance of the piece sparked curiosity, prompting further inquiry among students present at the scene.
According to multiple accounts from students in the Faculty of Art, the removal of the artwork was carried out following what they described as “orders from above.” While university officials have not yet released a statement on the matter, students believe the directive came from senior university management or external authorities.
The removal has been met with disappointment and concern among the student community, particularly within the Faculty of Art. Many students expressed their dismay, stating that the act represents a troubling clampdown on artistic expression and academic freedom.
“It’s disheartening,” one student shared. “From time immemorial, art has been a medium through which we communicate our thoughts, fears, and hopes. Why are we being silenced for speaking through our creativity?”
Others questioned the growing trend of censorship in the country, asking whether Nigeria is becoming a place where citizens can no longer freely express their views, especially through non-verbal, artistic forms of communication.
A somber mood has since enveloped the art faculty, with many students feeling that their right to express themselves through their craft has been infringed upon. For a department built on creativity and freedom of thought, the alleged action has raised concerns about the shrinking space for critical discourse in Nigeria’s academic institutions.
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