Street Made of Gold (SMOG), a non-governmental organization, hosted a vibrant art exhibition on sunday 4th may 2025 aimed at transforming creativity into opportunity, bringing together artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts in Jos, Plateau State.
The event, themed “Transforming Creativity Into Opportunity,” provided a platform for young creatives to showcase their talents in painting, sculpture, and pencil art. The exhibition also promoted youth empowerment, unity, and social inclusion through artistic expression.
Charles Maiboza, President and Founder of SMOG, described the exhibition as a safe space for fostering collaboration and networking among young people.
“The exhibition is about transforming creativity into opportunities, bringing people together in a safe space to network and foster unity. We want to reduce idleness by encouraging skill acquisition, so we have a community where there is security, food, and social well-being,” he said.
Patience Toscanini, General Manager of SMOG, emphasized the exhibition’s goal of spotlighting Plateau State’s artistic potential and offering creatives broader market access.
“This exhibition is to show and bring out the potentials of artists in Plateau State, which is why we’re streaming the event live online. Just as Plateau is known as the ‘Home of Peace and Tourism,’ we’re exploring our unique talents and giving youth a platform to meet investors and sell their work. We hope to make this an annual event,” she stated.
Onyinye Christiana, the only female artist at the exhibition and a visual artist with over 10 years of experience, said the event was not just an avenue to exhibit her work but also a call for more women to pursue professional art.
“I speak more on women-related issues through my paintings. Being the only female here encourages me to do better, especially as women are often excluded in many sectors. This event helps create awareness for more women to join the industry professionally,” she said.
Also present was Ibrahim Gabriel Pam, a painter, sculptor, and ceramist who owns an art gallery at the Jos National Museum. He expressed enthusiasm for the platform SMOG created.
“I was very excited when I heard SMOG was organizing an exhibition like this. Most of my paintings depict Plateau’s green pastures—peaceful, calm places. This platform helps artists like us show our creativity to the world. I hope it becomes bigger and better next year.”
SMOG’s broader mission is to unite and empower youth across backgrounds through advocacy, community-driven initiatives, and skill-building programs. The organization champions inclusivity, peace, and sustainable development.
For further enquiries about the event or placement of bids for the artworks contact: +2347047720223 or visit the Street Made of Gold website here.
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Kudos to the supporting partners: Maiboza Properties Ltd, Redlenz Multimedia, ScoutSity for coming to drive this initiative. Warphoodfilms was also there to assist with media coverage as well.
