Nigerian collector plans gallery for his collection

One of Nigeria's largest private collectors, retired stock broker Sammy Olagbaju, has announced that he will be building a gallery to house his collection of 1,500 pieces of modern and contemporary African art.

Two universities, according to an article in The Art Newspaper, have offered their campuses as potential sites, Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. Estimates for building the gallery, which will also house traditional Nigerian art from other collections, is thought to be from $3- $4 million, to come mainly from Olagbaju's own resources.

Olagbaju started his collection in 1967 when he focused mainly on Nigerian art before branching out to buy works from other African artists.

Another major Nigerian collector and philanthropist is Yemisi Shyllon whose interest in mainly in bronze and stone sculpture. Shyllon has recently endowed a chair of fine art and design at the University of Port Harcourt.

The Nigerian art world has received additional recognition this year with the appointment of the art critic Okwui Enwezor to curate the 2015 Venice Biennale.