The Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) of which laspapi is a member, retreated into a workshop at the Eko Hotel & Suites last thursday the 24th of January, to plan the direction of the organization over the coming years.

Deji Toye, who co-ordinated the retreat, has proved a real slave-driver, pushing us into the early hours of the morning to touch on matters that affect us all and this organization that has carved a formidable niche in matters of the Arts in Nigeria and beyond.

Conceived by the geologist and arts writer, Toyin Akinosho, more than 15 years ago along with Yomi Layinka, Tunde Lanipekun, Jossy Ogbuanoh and Chika Okeke, CORA won the 25,000 Euros price from the Prince Claus Foundation based in the Netherlands last year for its arts advocacy.

Resource people called in to aid the retreat included the C.E.O. of Farafina- Muhtar Bakare, Tony 'Kan' Nwordi Corporate Services Executive of the Bank PHB, the film maker- Mahmoud Alli-Balogun, Obi Asika- C.E.O. of Storm Records and Panin Kaniyuk and Azu Nwagbogu of the African Artists' Foundation.

A bonus of all the work-sessions is the ambience of the hotel and the lovely rooms. We might be checking out later today, Sunday, or tomorrow.

In pic 1- (seated from left) Toyin Akinosho, (Secretary General Of CORA), Sola Alamutu (Head Of the CATE foundation and member-WRITA), Ayo Arigbabu (Writer and Architect), Ropo Ewenla (Actor and lecturer), Jumoke Verissimo (Writer, Performance Poet). Standing behind is Chuks Nwanne who writes for the Guardian Newspapers)

Pic 2- Deji Toye (Lawyer and writer), Chuks,Toyin, Ayo, Ropo, Jumoke, Tony Kan, Sola, Jahman Anikulapo (Editor Of the Guardian on Sunday and Life Magazine, Programmes Chairman of CORA),Chris Ihidero (Editor- MADE magazine) and laspapi

Pic 3- Mahmoud Alli Balogun and Deji

Pic 4- Panin Kaniyuk, Azu and Jahman

Pic 5- (From left) Obi Asika, Muhtar and Deji