Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group are positioning cultural investment as a strategic pillar of Nigeria’s global engagement, using the international success of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition at London’s Tate Modern to reinforce the country’s soft power, deepen international partnerships and strengthen its global investment narrative.
The two institutions hosted a private reception at Tate Modern to celebrate the exhibition’s impact following its seven-month run, during which it attracted more than 180,000 visitors and introduced hundreds of millions of people worldwide to the evolution of modern Nigerian art through extensive international media coverage, digital engagement and educational programmes.
Beyond celebrating artistic achievement, the event highlighted the growing role corporate organisations are playing in deploying cultural capital as a tool for nation branding, international diplomacy and long-term economic engagement.
The exhibition, staged from October 10, 2025, to May 8, 2026, brought together nearly 300 artworks by more than 50 Nigerian artists spanning five decades, presenting one of the most comprehensive explorations of Nigerian modern art ever mounted at a major international museum.
Speaking at the reception, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, said the exhibition demonstrated how cultural investment can complement financial and intellectual capital in shaping national development.
“I have long believed that great nations are built at the intersection of financial, knowledge and cultural capital. Of these, cultural capital is often the force that brings everything else together,” he said.
According to Aig-Imoukhuede, one of the exhibition’s most enduring achievements was its impact on young Africans and members of the diaspora.
“One of the aspects of this exhibition that stands out most for me is the opportunity we created for nearly 2,800 students, many of them of African heritage, to experience Tate Modern.
“For many of these young people, the exhibition inspired a deeper appreciation of their heritage, reinforcing their sense of identity and pride in their African roots,” he added.
He also cited President Bola Tinubu’s private tour of the exhibition during his official visit to London as evidence of culture’s increasing role in diplomacy and international engagement.
“We saw a powerful example of that when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose to include a private tour of Nigerian Modernism during his historic visit to London. It was a remarkable moment that demonstrated the unique role culture can play in strengthening national identity, global engagement and diplomacy,” he said.
For Access Holdings and Coronation Group, the initiative reflects an expanding corporate strategy that extends beyond conventional financial services into preserving cultural heritage, supporting education and promoting Africa’s creative economy on the global stage.
Industry analysts say such investments increasingly complement corporate sustainability strategies by enhancing institutional reputation, strengthening stakeholder engagement and positioning African businesses as active contributors to global cultural discourse.
Karin Hinsbo, interim director of Tate Modern, described the exhibition as one of the gallery’s most significant recent presentations and credited the partnership with Access Holdings and Coronation Group for making it possible.
“Nigerian Modernism captivated hundreds of thousands of visitors. It was a story that had never been told in a UK gallery, bringing together an international network of 50 artists across 50 years through painting, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and works on paper.
“None of this would have been possible without the partnership, generosity and commitment of Access Holdings and Coronation Group,” Hinsbo said.
The exhibition also challenged longstanding art historical narratives by positioning Nigerian artists within the broader history of twentieth-century modernism while expanding international scholarship on African artistic movements.
A major highlight was the display of seven historic wooden sculptures by renowned Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu, originally commissioned in 1960 for the Daily Mirror newspaper in London and now preserved within the Access Holdings Art Collection.
Their inclusion underscored the growing importance of corporate stewardship in preserving cultural assets while facilitating collaboration between private institutions and global museums.
Throughout its run, the exhibition featured lectures, guided tours, educational initiatives and public programmes designed to deepen understanding of African art among international audiences, particularly younger generations and members of the African diaspora.
Business leaders attending the reception noted that investments in culture increasingly support broader economic objectives by strengthening national reputation, promoting tourism, expanding creative industries and creating new opportunities for international partnerships.
Although the exhibition has concluded, participants said its legacy will continue through expanded scholarship, stronger institutional collaborations and greater international recognition of Nigerian artistic excellence.
