Emmanuel E. Nnamani declared the event open on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah, while Chidera Sam-Eze and Dr. Ijeoma Onyejekwe watched with admiration
The 2nd Edition of Enugu Photo Festival has commenced in the Coal City amidst excitement as many people recalled with nostalgia their memories of artefacts and sites. The festival, themed “From Ruins to Remembrance,” which began on November 11, 2025, will end on November 22.
The Founder, Art Focus Foundation and Curator for Enugu Photo Festival, Chidera Sam-Eze, who disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday shortly after the commencement of the event, stated that the event was in collaboration with the National Museum of Unity, Enugu, the Centre for Memories, and supported by the Goethe Institut Nigeria.
She also stated that the festival will host activities like a symposium and artist talk, a portfolio review and workshop, and short film screenings.
“For the second edition of the Enugu Photo Festival, we have chosen the theme: ‘From Ruins to Remembrance’ to revisit cultural memory, forgotten sites and spaces, artefacts, hidden history and spaces in our communities and the stories they hold.”
Chidera further explained, “The festival is a platform designed to showcase the work of photographers, visual artists, and storytellers, with a focus on telling the stories of Eastern Nigeria’s rich culture, history, and lifestyle.
“The exhibition hall here, as you can see, is the Public Works Department, Old Secretariat, Enugu, built in 1928. It is very significant. The exhibition hall was provided by Enugu State Internal Revenue Service.”
The Curator further said: “We are a community that thrives on knowledge sharing, skill building and connecting with local communities to contribute to their development while fostering collaboration with the global creative community.
“This edition explores the impact of these legacies on our cultural identity, our interaction with them in the present, and how we carry these memories into the future.”
While declaring the festival open on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Executive Chairman of Enugu Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, commended the organisers of the festival.
He noted that the state government will continue to encourage individuals and corporate organisations in the development of culture and tourism in the state. Nnamani said, “Our state is filled with beautiful places and people. I encourage our people and visitors to come here to experience the exhibition of our forgotten sights and artefacts. I was happy to see photographs of the artefacts from my community, Amechi-Idodo.
“We need to tell our own stories, and I honestly thank Chidera Sam-Eze and her team for providing this opportunity for people to explore legacies on our cultural identity.”
Also in her remarks, the Chief Heritage Officer National Commission for Monuments and Museums, Dr. Ijeoma Onyejekwe, said that exhibiting the culture of our people will encourage understanding and love, thereby bringing about unity in the country.
She said: “Showcasing the cultural, historical, and artistic heritage of our people through a collection of artifacts promotes education and cultural appreciation. I commend Chidera Sam-Eze, Founder, Art Focus Foundation, and Curator for Enugu Photo Festival, for this great event, which will end on November 22.”
