Students of the Department of Arts and Social Science Education (ASE) converged at the Ajose Lecture Theatre on June 5 as the Nigerian Association of Arts and Social Science Education Students (NAASES-OAU) hosted the maiden edition of FusionFest, an event designed to explore the intersection of arts and social innovation.
The event featured goodwill messages from departmental representatives, a keynote address, panel discussions, performances, and an inter-unit debate competition. Distinguished guests present included Dr J.O. Tairu who represented the Head of Department of ASE; Prof. Macellina Yinyinade Ijadunola, the keynote speaker; Adedapo Taiwo Emmanuel and Joel Oyeleke, who were both panellists.
A major highlight of the event was the Inter-Unit debate, which featured the following matchups and topics:
- Education and Economics vs. Education and Religious Studies: Music, poetry, and writing should prioritise social impact over aesthetic craft.
- Education and History vs. Education and English: AI should be incorporated into public speaking, teaching, and writing for public audiences.
- Education and Music vs. Education and Geography: Government should fund public performances and community teaching over institutional arts programmes.
- Education and Political Science vs. Education and French: Art forms that heal trauma should be prioritised over art forms that provoke controversy in public spaces.
- Education and Yoruba vs. Education and Fine Art: Corporate sponsorships should be banned from music festivals, literary events, and public speaking forums.
At the end of the debate, the Education and English unit emerged champions, followed by the Education and Fine Art unit. In third place was the Education and Political Science unit. The teams received certificates of participation alongside cash prizes of ₦20,000, ₦15,000, and ₦10,000 respectively. Additionally, Prof. Macellina, the keynote speaker, presented each team with African novels from her bookstore, The Spur Hub.
Additional activities at the event included an art exhibition by Ifeoluwa, a song titled ‘Ife Mi’ performed by Adeoye, a performance by the Education and Music unit, a dancing competition, and a guitar performance by Opeyemi.
Nuggets from Panellists
Beyond the debate competition, attendees also engaged with industry professionals during a panel session that focused on artistic growth, innovation, and legacy. During the panel session, Joel Oyeleke offered guidance to young artists, noting that ‘Theory without practice is blind, and practice without theory is barren.’ He further added, ‘As a beginner, there is always the temptation to want to make money. However, think about the future. If any artwork will not be forgotten, it has to have a legacy.’
The second panellist, Adedapo Taiwo Emmanuel, also addressed up and coming artists, quoting Vance Havner: ‘Inspiration never goes in for long engagements. It demands marriage.’ He further advised, ‘Visualise the future and practicalise something.’
The Vision behind FusionFest
According to the host, Adenegan Blessing, the desire to do something different from the usual symposiums and freshers’ orientations drove the birth of FusionFest. She mentioned that she wanted to create an event that brought all students of the department together, noting that some of the ten units within the department had long felt marginalised due to their small numbers.
Adenegan further explained that since the department comprises largely students in art-related and human resource courses, it was only fitting that the theme reflect the goal of uniting everyone while revealing art as an integral part of human existence and a provider of solutions to human problems.
When asked what advice she had for future executives, she issued a charge to them. ‘I am sending this message to the coming executives of this great department, especially those who will occupy the post of Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Arts and Social Science Education. Let’s make FusionFest a continuing event that brings ASE together.’
Students’ Reactions
While interacting with an InFocus correspondent, Emmanuel Olatunbosun Ayotunde, one of the debaters from Education and Fine Art remarked, ‘The debate inspired me to attend FusionFest. I love to research ideas and share them with people. FusionFest changed my understanding of art. I now see it as a tool for social connection and psychological engagement, not just the creation of artefacts’
Olabisi Olamide Temilade, who represented the Education and English unit, was also motivated to attend the event because of the debate. She stated that she had hoped to have fun and learn at the event which she did. In her words, ‘The music performance was one of the best activities I enjoyed. I learned that every idea should be exhibited and not kept underneath. The words of Panellist Joel resonated with me the most. The event changed my perspective on art and social innovation in many ways. I would rate FusionFest 2026 seven out of ten. Also, I would suggest that publicity for future editions should be improved.’
With its blend of debate, artistic performances, and discussions on innovation, the maiden edition of FusionFest offered students a platform to explore the role of the arts in addressing social issues while fostering unity within the department.