ABOUT GOGO ANYANWU JR

Profile and Background

My PhD journey started in February 2022. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art (painting) and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations. I have attended HR and leadership courses at the Harvard University, Boston and the United States Labour College, Maryland, US. My career spans over 20 years’ work experience across different departments of commercial banks – corporate services, branch management and HR. I have managed employment relations and HR projects of an international bank for over a decade. Due to my passion for employee voice and rights, I facilitated the establishment of the Ecobank senior staff union – the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and became its founding President (2008 – 2016). I initiated and facilitated the implementation of HR policies such as the policy that authorized the union to represent the interest of employees as a member of the Ecobank Disciplinary Committee and facilitated its implementation in other Nigerian banks. 

I am also an accomplished Commercial Business and Retail Operations Manager, HR Strategist and Administrator, Talent Manager, Employee Relations Specialist, HRM Researcher and Business Process Optimization Advocate. Initiated and facilitated the implementation of fundamental business and HR policies that enhanced organizational performance and employee experience.

HIS WORK AS A PRACTISING ARTIST

Gogo Anyanwu Jr stated practicing art in his early years as a child – drawing his parents and siblings. In 1982,

Gogo won the first position in a Nigerian National Art competition for children in primary and secondary schools, organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture, Lagos. Over the subsequent years, Gogo’s interest and skills in drawing and painting improved due to the influence and guidance from his father, Prince Alban Gogo Anyanwu (1934-2023), a graduate of the old ABU Zaria art school and one
of the two pioneer sculpture graduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Gogo is a practicing artist who uses paintings to depict his culture and environment. Based in Leeds, the UK, Gogo holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts (painting) from the University of Uyo, Nigeria, where he graduated with a Second Class Honours Upper Division. Since his graduation in 1998, Gogo has produced over 400 paintings in different media and has participated in solo and group art exhibitions in Nigeria and
the UK.

Gogo’s passion is teaching children and youngsters how to draw and paint. He has facilitated art workshops for children and adults across West Yorkshire, including the 2023 and 2024 Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF) and the 2024 University of Leeds Africa Week.

Gogo has received awards in the UK for his creative excellence, community service and education through drawing and painting.

ART EXHIBITIONS, WORKSHOPS AND PROJECTS IN THE UK

Solo Exhibition at the CERIC Doctoral Conference, University of Leeds, Leeds May 23, 2025

Group Exhibition at the 2024 University of Leeds Africa Week, Leeds May 20 – 25, 2024

Solo Exhibition at the 2024 Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF), Leeds July 1 – 6, 2024

Group Exhibition at the 2023 Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF), Leeds July 3 – 8, 2024

Solo Exhibition at the 2024 Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF), Leeds July 1 – 6, 2023

Art Workshop, 2024 Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF), Leeds July 7, 2024

Art Workshop for Children, University of Leeds Africa Week May 20 – 25, 2024

Art Workshop, 2023 Leeds International African Arts Festival (LIAAF), Leeds July 9, 2023

Art Workshop for children, Nigeria Community Leeds (NCL), Leeds May 13 – 14 2023

GOGO HAS WON THE FOLLOWING AWARDS BELOW

• NELAS Academy Outstanding Creative Artist Award for ‘professional excellence and high standards of ethical
  conduct in creative art’, London – January 28, 2023.
• ZAFAA African Film and Academy Awards for ‘Contribution to the growth of the African and Black communities in
  the UK’, London – November 19, 2022.
• The AFRICA4U Awards for Africans and Caribbeans in West Yorkshire for ‘Creative excellence and community service’, Bradford – May 7, 2022.
• National Art Competition for children in Primary and Secondary schools organized by the National Council for
  Arts and Culture, Lagos – Nigeria in 1983. 1 st Position.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BOOK GOGO FOR AN ARTS EXHIBITION OR ARTS WORKSHOP , CONTACT +44 7983 029328

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