Coronation Art Gallery Unveils ‘The Value of Belief,’ Celebrating the Conviction Behind Nigeria’s Contemporary Art
LAGOS — Coronation Art Gallery has opened The Value of Belief — Collectors, Conviction and the Making of Cultural Futures, a three-month exhibition celebrating the vision, patronage and long-term commitment of three distinguished Nigerian art collectors.
The opening, held at Coronation Plaza in Victoria Island, Lagos, attracted senior executives of Coronation Group, business leaders, collectors, artists, cultural practitioners and members of the media. The event was also attended by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR, Chairman of Coronation Group, alongside members of the Group’s Board.
The exhibition brings together works from the private collections of Kayode Adegbola, Kola Aina and Seyi Ajibola, three collector-patrons whose sustained engagement with Nigerian art has contributed to the growth and development of the country’s contemporary art ecosystem.
Spanning painting, sculpture and mixed media, the featured collections demonstrate how deliberate collecting can extend beyond the acquisition of artworks to become a form of cultural investment — supporting artists, preserving stories and strengthening the infrastructure through which African creativity can thrive.
At the heart of The Value of Belief is the idea that the conviction required to identify and nurture artistic value mirrors the principles of successful long-term investment: recognising potential before it becomes universally evident, committing with purpose and remaining invested long enough for lasting value to emerge.
Speaking at the opening, Kayode Akindele, Managing Partner, Coronation Capital, described the exhibition as an expression of the shared principles that underpin both art patronage and investment.
“The Value of Belief is ultimately about conviction: the willingness to see worth before the world agrees, to commit before there is consensus, and to hold on long enough for something lasting to take shape.”
He added that the conversations generated among collectors, artists, clients and executives during the opening demonstrated the importance of creating spaces where art, business and ideas can intersect.
For Coronation Group’s Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Ngozi Akinyele, the exhibition reflects the organisation’s broader understanding of prosperity and legacy.
“At Coronation, we have always believed that prosperity is measured in more than financial returns. What we preserve, the talent we enable, the stories we carry forward and the legacies we leave — these are equally real expressions of wealth,” she said.
Akinyele noted that the exhibition represents a significant statement about Coronation’s identity and its commitment to supporting cultural development while making art more accessible to wider audiences.
The opening follows a Press View held on 21 August, which attracted more than 70 journalists and media stakeholders, including members of the Capital Markets Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN), as well as representatives of the entertainment, arts, culture and business media.
Established as a repository for African artistic creation, Coronation Art Gallery is committed to promoting research, education and appreciation of art, while using its collection as a platform for storytelling, investment and cultural elevation.
Over time, the Gallery has welcomed leading figures from business, government, diplomacy and the creative sector, alongside prominent artists, collectors and cultural practitioners. Its previous guests have included former Minister of Finance Wale Edun; JoEllen Gorg, Acting Consul General, US Embassy in Nigeria; Nimi Akinkugbe; former Ambassador of Nigeria to Greece; Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of ThisDay Media Group and Arise News; Gbenga Oyebode MFR; and Femi Okunsanya.
With The Value of Belief, Coronation Art Gallery is expanding its engagement beyond traditional gallery audiences, creating opportunities for clients, students, artists, collectors and members of the wider public to participate in conversations around art, value, patronage and cultural legacy.
The exhibition forms part of a wider three-month programme running through November 2026. Activities will include private viewings for clients, a curated tour for university students and a closing webinar featuring the curator and the participating collectors.
By bringing together art, patronage and investment under one roof, The Value of Belief makes a compelling case that the value of culture is not simply found in what is collected, but in the conviction to recognise, preserve and build upon it for generations to come.