Says industrial builders are architects of peace and African self-reliance
The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has commissioned a special art design concept at Ilorin Art Festival 3.0 as part of activities marking its decade of indigenous operations and impact.
The commissioned artwork was executed on 20th June, 2026 through a live painting performance by renowned artist Olart, and dedicated to honouring Aliko Dangote for his contribution to industrial development, economic self reliance, and nation-building across Africa.
According to PeacePro Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the concept behind the artwork is rooted in the organization’s philosophy that peace is not sustained only by preventing conflicts, but by building the foundations that make peaceful societies possible.
He identified these foundations as productive capacity, employment, energy security, industrial growth, and economic confidence.
The artwork depicts Dangote with a digger, symbolizing determination, resilience, and the effort required to break through barriers on the path to African industrial transformation.
The painting portrays him confronting multiple obstacles while creating indigenous industrial opportunities and expanding Africa’s productive capacity.
PeacePro explained that the imagery represents the difficult process of building transformative infrastructure in an environment shaped by dependency, structural limitations, vested interests, and long standing economic challenges.
Hamzat noted that the work is not merely a celebration of business achievement, but a tribute to the broader idea of nation building through production, innovation, and self reliance.
“Factories are peace infrastructure. Industries are peace infrastructure. Jobs are peace infrastructure. When societies can produce, employ their citizens, and build confidence in the future, they strengthen the foundations of peace,” Hamzat stated.
PeacePro said the rise of large scale industrial projects, including refinery and manufacturing capacity, represents a significant part of Africa’s pursuit of economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
The live painting, which served as the opening live painting performance of the festival, captured the journey of vision, resilience, and ambition required to build institutions capable of transforming societies.
As PeacePro marks 10 years of 100% indigenous operations and recognizes Dangote as its Man of the Decade, the organization said the initiative reflects its belief that individuals and institutions that build the foundations of prosperity are also contributing to the foundations of peace.
