Art Education for Sustainable Development: Transforming Youth Unemployment to Productivity in Seme Border Communities, Nigeria

Authors

  • Adekoya Bisola Adewale Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria
  • Gandonu Sewanu Peter Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria
  • Oluwa Nurusiq Oladatun Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria
  • Azeez Razaq Olayinka Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria
  • Oridola Adeola Ibrahim Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria
  • Shidi Yusuf Adisa Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

Keywords:

Art Education, Cultural Preservation, Seme Border, Suistainable Develpoment, Youth Empowerment

Abstract

The Seme Border area in Nigeria is a strategic Nigeria–Benin trade corridor; however, local youth continue to experience high unemployment, limited access to skills training, and declining engagement with local arts and cultural practices. This condition reflects a gap in community empowerment programmes that integrate economic capacity building with cultural sustainability in border communities. This community service activity aims to empower youth in the Seme Border communities through art education grounded in the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) framework, with a focus on economic improvement, cultural preservation, and community resilience. The activities were conducted in Seme Border communities, targeting local youth as primary beneficiaries and involving local artists and craftsmen as community partners. The solution offered consisted of participatory mentoring and hands-on learning in traditional arts and crafts that integrate creative skill development with local cultural values. A participatory, action-based approach using qualitative methods was employed to support collaborative learning between the service team and the community. Data were collected through interviews and practical craft-learning sessions with artists, craftsmen, and youth participants, and analyzed thematically to evaluate the implementation process and outcomes. The results indicate that art education not only equips youth with marketable skills in arts and crafts but also revitalizes indigenous heritage, fostering pride and identity. Challenges such as limited resources and policy neglect highlight the need for public–private partnerships to scale community-based art learning programmes. This community service activity concludes that art education is a vital yet underutilized tool for reducing youth restiveness and promoting sustainable growth in border communities.

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Author Biographies

Adekoya Bisola Adewale, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

Mr Adekoya Bisola is an artist and art teacher of many years. He is well -grounded in graphics and photography. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Nigeria.

Gandonu Sewanu Peter, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

Dr Sewanu Peter Gandonu is an art educator. He has taught art at both elementary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. His area of specialization is Art education. He is currently a lecturer in Painting and Art Education at Lagos State University of Education, Nigeria. 

Oluwa Nurusiq Oladatun, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

Oluwa is a sculptor and a teacher. His interest is in children's art practice development. His teaching experience spans decades. He is currently the Head, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Nigeria.

Azeez Razaq Olayinka, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

A lecturer of graphics and photography, Azeez is highly experience in the use of both modern and indigenous art styles and equipment. He is an academic staff at Lagos State University of Education, Lagos

Oridola Adeola Ibrahim, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

Oridola is a ceramics expert and an academic staff. He is a teaching staff at the Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education in Nigeria. 

Shidi Yusuf Adisa, Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Nigeria

Shidi is a sculpture lecturer and a practicing artist. He is a faculty member of the Department of Fine Arts Education, Lagos State University of Education, Nigeria

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Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Adewale, A. B., Peter, G. S., Oladatun, O. N., Olayinka, A. R., Ibrahim, O. A., & Adisa, S. Y. (2025). Art Education for Sustainable Development: Transforming Youth Unemployment to Productivity in Seme Border Communities, Nigeria. Jurnal Karya Abdi Masyarakat, 9(2), 161–170. Retrieved from https://www.online-journal.unja.ac.id/JKAM/article/view/43306

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025): Jurnal Karya Abdi Masyarakat

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Adekoya Bisola Adewale, Gandonu Sewanu Peter, Oluwa Nurusiq Oladatun, Azeez Razaq Olayinka, Oridola Adeola Ibrahim, Shidi Yusuf Adisa

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