Aliyu Ahmed urges standardised art valuation to strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy

Founder of Garga Art Galleries Limited, Aliyu Aminu Ahmed, has renewed calls for the establishment of a robust art valuation framework in Nigeria, stressing that it is key to unlocking the full potential of the country’s burgeoning creative economy.

Speaking in Abuja, Aliyu lamented the absence of a standardized system to determine the financial value of artworks in Nigeria. He warned that the current vacuum not only undermines investor confidence but also limits the ability of Nigerian artists and galleries to thrive locally and compete globally.

“Art valuation is the backbone of a credible, investable, and scalable creative industry,” Aliyu said. “Without proper systems in place, we risk undervaluing our creative assets and denying artists critical wealth-building opportunities.”

Art valuation, according to experts, is influenced by several core factors, including the artist’s reputation, provenance, physical condition, medium, size, market demand, and authenticity. In more mature markets, these elements are systematically documented and assessed to guide fair pricing and ensure buyer confidence.

In Nigeria, however, the lack of formal pricing mechanisms has left artists vulnerable to exploitation and inconsistent earnings. Investors, insurers, and collectors also struggle to make informed decisions, hindering the integration of Nigerian art into global financial and cultural systems.

Aliyu is advocating a multi-stakeholder approach involving artists, galleries, academic institutions, auction houses, certified valuers, and regulatory agencies to co-create a national policy on art valuation. He also called for the establishment of a national registry of artworks, the certification of valuers, and the use of digital platforms to promote transparency.

“Valuation must be driven by expertise, data science, provenance, and market trends—not guesswork,” he said.

To advance the conversation, Garga Art Galleries is engaging with stakeholders at Ahmadu Bello University to discuss key issues such as documentation, provenance, and artist profiling. The gallery is also working on training programmes for emerging artists and collectors, and forging partnerships both locally and internationally to support the development of a reliable valuation framework.

“It is a gradual process, but we will get there,” Aliyu assured.

As Nigeria continues to gain global recognition for its cultural and artistic talent, Aliyu believes that building strong valuation systems is not only an economic imperative but also a cultural duty.

He insists that with coordinated efforts and strategic collaborations, Nigerian art can evolve into a highly valued global export and a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.